Like a Local

What I've found (and been surprised about) since moving here, is that the towns are pretty far apart and the fuel stations and supermarkets are few and far between - compared to our old stomping ground anyway. 

Because I didn't think about it first, I had to make a 40klm trip east to get fuel so I could head west for the homeschool meet up. 

It was fun to meet locals at the meetup (when I say 'locals', the distances between two families was just under 200klm! Needless to say the meet ups are only fortnightly).

Our boys had a ball playing the gross motor team games including blindfolded hockey races, piggy-backs relays, tunnel ball, shot put, and an almighty water bomb team fight to decide the winner ('the team who is driest wins the day'). I was pretty involved and laughing my ass off and only remembered the camera at the end!

We visited the closest Steiner school, which is 8klm (20 minutes) by dirt road through the forest. The children were  sweet and we might go for a playgroup session. 

In the meantime, we've bought enough firewood (and Tim has cut a load) to keep the wood heater running continuously. Dusty had the idea to make and serve up lemonade to the hardworking wood-choppers so he busied himself with the juicing. Unfortunately the chopped wood has taken over their undercover play space.

And the rain has started again. But this makes Maxie happy, because worms (Wooms!) are easy to find.

Up on horses

When we arrived here at the schoolhouse, several sets of neighbors called in, including the owners of the schoolhouse. We've actually seen them several times a week as they are keen to fix and improve the property and to be friendly. Vanessa warmly invited us to visit their home down the road to meet their horses, and so we did. 

Maxie walked 'Jahlie' around by the rope while Dusty sat on top, then Maxie conquered his fear of big animals and had a turn, too. And then they rode together.

Lemons

The boys have played through another week in the old schoolhouse blissfully naive to the logistical problems Tim and I have been wading through. A pile of problems as deep as a pile of autumn leaves, and just as easy to clean up, and even laugh about.

And just as we have swept up the leaves of this pecan nut tree everyday, with the boys rolling and laughing, we've almost fixed our phone and internet problems, and we've waited while the house toilet was installed, washing machine was connected, and while the water tank was fixed by the owners. We can now do washing and use the toilet and drink the water (well, now that we have installed a filter after the tank became tainted with fire ash). A second water tank was delivered yesterday and will be installed over the next few days.  

And when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right? I'll have to make time for lemon juicing, next week!

We've laid carpet to keep the concrete floors from freezing our toes and to keep the chest coughs at bay. We have weeded, and swept, and raked, and whipper-snipped, and picked fruit - a whole lot of lemons, oranges, pecan nuts, kale, basil and mint - and Tim has cut fire wood. We've  cleaned up the shed (set up for a dog house) for the boys to use as a cubby house and a little undercover room for crafting and painting. 

It is gradually feeling more like our little space and it's becoming prettier every day.

And at the end of a wet rainy day, we get warm in front of the fire. It's not only the little boys who are tired after a big day of outdoor garden play :)

 

Rainy weather

It is so much better living in a house than a caravan during cold and rainy weather, but still impossibly hard to keep the boys indoors, in clean dry clothes. I'm the world's biggest nagger, 'you're wearing socks, get off the wet grass! Oh no, the trampoline is wet! You're soaking wet again! We've run out of pants and socks. Get into a warm shower! You're going to freeze. What?! Maxie is outside in the mud and rain?! ...' And so on.

The garden is dripping and green. The house is cosy with the fire going and kids' movies playing. The sandwich press is busy making toasties, and the smell is sweet from baking Anzac biscuits. For once, our house is the romantic one with smoke curling out of the chimney.

(A familiar Flack sight, that one, children on the trolley)

(Dusty built towers out of the kindling)

(We need to improve the bathing situation)

And the dog sleeps on ...

Building and crafting and eating

As the week unfolded in our new home (aka 'schoolhouse'), more toys came out of boxes and Dusty was reunited with his craft goodies (and Maxie discovered the craft with fresh bright eyes :)

Since returning from the 9 month getaway, Dusty has a new sense of creativity and ability. He is working on technologies and all kinds of useful vehicles, which he describes to us with detail. What an inventor! Also, he is re-making what he watched Mr Maker create on ABCkids, all by his self with questions to me only for finding pipe-cleaner, glue, etc.

Meanwhile, Siah and Ivory hen shared a romantic meal... Lady and the tramp style :)

With Tim away for work last week I was able to get to know the boys eating rhythm really well and they have settled into a routine - well, I've settled into my duty of keeping food on the table and they eat constantly. So many processes to keep up with, in the parenting gig! I've attempted my coursework a few times but it's really on the back burner still. Let's see how I go with blogging again after my few months break from blogging. I've got the inspiration, that's for certain :)