Belinda Moore

Where, oh where did September go?

AT HOME: Nothing much is new here at home. Reno’s are all on hold and I’ve done just a little spring cleaning. Okay, only the de-cluttering part and not too much actual cleaning (yet). We have had some great visitors in September, it’s lovely to share our home with people we love…

AT WORK: I’ve quite a few writing projects to tackle, but haven’t made the time this month. I’m within deadlines, though, so that’s a good thing, right? Count September as time working in the field!

You’ll probably start to think that this is a cooking blog with all the recipes and menu plans I’ve been posting lately? I’ll try to post more variety in future…

Spiral Garden is busier than ever with Christmas shoppers, gift givers, overseas orders and continual re-stocking efforts on my behalf. Huge thanks to the very clever folk who lovingly craft items by hand for the store, and the customers who support me in growing my little business.

My volunteer work with LETS and Seed Savers Up North is going well. This is where my passions lie right now and I’m really rapt to be able to spend time with these two groups of people.

ON THE FARM: There are 20 new chicks now, and they are terribly cute! There are also two new quails. I know nothing about quails, but Immi bought a breeding pair home from the markets on the weekend, so I’m sure to learn.

The duck pen is finally finished! My stepdad built in one end as chick-raising pens for now. I’ve no idea which ducks we’ll get, and when, but at least we’re 100% ready for them. The mini pens will be handy for protecting ducklings or sitting ducks in time.

The guinea pigs are getting fat. I’m not sure when the babies are due, but Abby is counting down the days of course!

I am using this site and moon planting to try to keep the seedlings coming. I splashed out on some different seeds for this Spring, and I’m excited to get them growing. Hopefully in October we’ll finish more gardens so I have space for all of these plants!

I’m also steadily collecting and propagating trees for the impending wet season. We’ll do some more massive plantings when the (real) rain comes. Last year’s plants are doing so well - a few problems with some red mite in the orchard (on the citrus), but otherwise everything is growing nicely.

HOME ED.: Alice in Wonderland was just wonderful. It was really enjoyable to watch and the children were so proud of their performance. Lily wants to join the theatre group next year.

It’s time for a new calendar for our home ed group, ATHENS, we are counting down till the camp next week.

We’ve planned some more structured activities for next term, since the theatre commitments will be over for the younger ones (only Brit is involved in the adult theatre production). Tuesdays will be Sewing Days and Wednesdays will be Italian Days. The rest of the week we have music, yoga, home ed group, art class, rehearsals for Brit, etc. I’m currently gathering materials for requested sewing projects, and getting the resources together for Italian lessons. It’s been awhile, so perhaps I’ll be starting from scratch?

Heath and Lily are both very keen on writing at the moment. Heath is a little maths machine, counting and adding often. Bryce had a hand-sewing lesson the other day, but it didn’t go very smoothly. We’ll try again though. Abby is hand-sewing gnomes and dolls from natural fibres and they’re beautiful. Soon she’ll be stocking Spiral Garden for me, I’m sure! Brittany is back into her guitar playing, after a break, and madly reading and writing daily. Imogen is knitting several projects at once and thoroughly immersed in her chick-raising hobby. Overall, they’re a busy bunch, discovering their passions and enjoying the time they have to do so. Home Ed rocks!