Belinda Moore

August was such a fast month. I don’t usually like August much, maybe it’s because it’s windy? It’s amazing how the weather affects our moods.

AT HOME: We had a busy month with fixing up things around the place and trying to keep it all clean and tidy. I have decided that this real estate business has more to do with fate than good management. This past week has been especially full of ups and downs. So far, nothing to report. The children started swimming again and also went boating and fishing, so the weather’s warmed up here already. Winter forgot to come it seems.
AT WORK: Education Choices is a little late for a couple of reasons. It’s strange to be working on the next one and not yet have the current issue in my hands. I’m researching for a feature focusing on younger parents homeschooling for a coming issue. Anyone with something to share please contact me!

I have a chapter to write for another writer’s book, which I’ll tell more about as it eventuates. Having prepared the notes for this, I hope to get it completed this month. I like contributing to others’ projects.

The book I helped to edit by Chrissy Butler is being launched in Brisbane this month, so perhaps I’ll fly down for that. It’s very exciting, having watched this project evolve from its earliest stages.

It’s a fantastic time for the garden so seed sales have been going well. Twice in August we had to do more packing as our stocks ran low. Seeds can be purchased directly via email and current stock is listed on the seeds page.

IN THE GARDEN: Some of the older hens have been laying again. They seem very proud! Mrs Whitey lays large white eggs, the only white eggs we get. Girl lays very small and round brown eggs. She is so old and fat that I don’t know how she wobbles herself onto the nesting box. Both of them are more bold at feeding time now that they’re contributing eggs. They rush over for the best treats with the rest of the flock. The chooks give us so much joy! And lots of eggs.
I finally finished mulching the main vegie patch and have numerous seedlings in as well as some mature roma tomatoes, lettuce (ongoing planting and harvesting), celery, herbs, eggplant, ceylon spinach etc. I just put up a new trellis so will plant some beans when the (unseasonably heavy) rain stops. Snake Beans and Purple King for this time of year. We have more baby pineapples coming through on the many plants, which is lovely to watch. Our Abiu tree has its first ever fruit, so we can’t wait to taste those! We are frequently checking the Grumichama, Abiu and Brazillian Cherry tree to see which exotic flavour we can forage first! The paw paw, pumpkin, eggplant and greens are our most prolific crops right now. Chokos are much slower than other years, even though we have a lovely vine along the back of the chook run and a couple of other vines in other spots.

Recently, we enjoyed a salad (almost all from the garden), some eggs, and fresh fish caught in the river. It was a very satisfying meal in many ways.

HOME ED.: We have kept busy with going out, sports, library trips and visitors. We’re planning for our annual camp at Tinaroo, hoping the sun will shine for us.
Immi won a colouring competition during Science Week at the library and has been learning all about roses, cacti and succulents. Brit went away for a week visiting and has been looking at the alternatives for secondary subjects she wants to study. Bryce’s reading is coming along really well, which helps with so many things. Abby was playing chords on the piano the other day and re-did her whole garden one afternoon - it looks great. Lily and Heath seem to be leaving their toddler days behind and joining the bigger kids for lots of things. They are especially wonderful during our group yoga sessions and ‘family jam night’ where they have so much to share.