ONE LAST TIME!!

Just had to fit one last post in for the year. After my pitiful blogging attempt for December of just one post.

As you can see from the pictures Santa is worn out......

but it looks like he made a tidy little sum by what's tucked in his belt.

So from my house to yours I hope the coming year brings much health & happiness to your family.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

GUESS WHAT!!

GUESS WHAT!!

NO you will never guess!!

Oopsey has arrived @ Simply Joolz

Isn't she going to have a fun Christmas there, Joolz is having a big one. I am sure Oopsey is glad to be back in her homeland for the Festive Season.

Don't forget to stay tuned to Joolz blog if you would like to be the next to host the little bear. It is almost a year since she started her around the world trip.

Please visit Joolz blog to see all the places she has visited. She has done a great post, the loads of links she has done must have taken her ages. THANKS JOOLZ!!

CAROLINE xoxo.....

WHEN SOLDIER BOY IS AWAY.....

When Big Bro is away in the Army I drive his car (keeps the battery charged)

So does 12 year old little Bro. (Although Big Bro doesn't know it)

Ggrrrr all around my yard tearing the lawn up!!

KIDS!! Ya got to love them.

Have a great weekend everybody I 'm off to here....

CAROLINE xoxo

HERB UPDATE

Remember back on November 6th I said I had decided to move my herbs into tubs because of the water situation. (Photos here)

Well these are the photos of those seedlings only 1 week later. Boy do they love growing in these tubs, I think I will be growing them here all the time now.




Yeh I know I'm late posting them, but blogger wasn't being kind to me and wouldn't let me load the pictures. Even now it has loaded the photo above sideways despite my many attempts and some Choice! words directed towards blogger to right it.

Meaning no that frypan in the first picture really isn't defying gravity. Oh and in case you are actually even wondering what I do have a frypan in my garden for, it is filled with water for my Guinea Pigs that run loose throughout my garden.

The tubs I have them planted in are actually old concrete Wash(Laundry) Troughs that people were throwing out of an old house they were renovating. So in keeping with my recycling, frugal living philosophies they were of course destined to come live with me. A lick of old green paint some potting mix mixed with Organic Booster & Compost and there you go herbs near my back door.

Anyway today I am going to make some fresh Pesto with all that Basil I have growing (Yummy)

Caroline xoxo...

SPILT MILK

You know what the saying is :- " Never cry over spilt milk"

Well I can honestly say in our family we never do.............................

We just call in the Mutts!!

Caroline xoxo...

AN OLD MINCER

This old Mincer was lying discarded on the floor of a shed, that's till little old me nabbed it and bought it home to live. It didn't look like this mind you!! The person I got it off said it is at least 50years old. It weighs a ton which brings to my mind they just don't make things like they use to.

I have been looking at Mincer's this year in all the kitchen shops, most are around the $150.00 mark for one with any quality about it, but yet they are still not as heavy as this. I mean this thing literally weighs a ton. I hope I never drop it on my toe although I would probably have a hole in the floor to!!



I have scrubbed & scalded & then scrubbed & scalded again. I then soaked it in Olive Oil.

It has come up pretty good, so next time my local IGA has Rump Steak on special I will try my hand at making my own Mince(Ground Beef). In my area Mince ranges in price from $4.99kg(I would only use this for pet mince) TO $13.99kg for premium. The IGA has Rump Steak regularly on special for $5.99kg but at least I will have the advantage that I know what is in it eg-Preservative Free. Also it is common knowledge in Australia, among people in the trade that water is added to the mince to make it weigh more.

Mmm I would rather pay for wine than water!!

OOPSEY HEADS BACK DOWN UNDER

Oopsey has been very safely closeted up over at the SILVER SEWER'S in England while their postage strike has been on, but now that has lifted she will be heading back to her home down under & visiting Joolz's blog SIMPLY JOOLZ .

While we are on the subject of Oopsey I must thank MARGARET's RAMBLINGS for taking care of her while I was sick.

A big thank you to the DECADENT HOUSEWIFE who made some clothes for her to continue her round the world holiday & for the Howling good postcard she sent me. Thanks Decadent Housewife it was such a nice surprise to get a postcard all the way from Canada.

Pop on over to the Silver Sewers & you will be able to see where Oopsey has visited for the last while & don't forget to keep an eye on Joolz's blog to see what Oopsey gets up to next.

CAROLINE xoxo....

FRIDAY ARVO

Friday afternoon and we are all looking forward to the week-end here at our home. Not that we have anything planned it's just that this time of year things just start to get CRAZY, and if your brave enough to look at my cute little Christmas Tree widget in my sidebar it will boldly announce to you that it is only 49Dy's till Christmas.

Have you started your Christmas preparations yet?? I have just started, yesterday I wrapped some presents and went through my Present Pantry to see what I could gift out of there. I collect things all year for my Present Pantry, always good for last minute presents & parties. Usually I try to buy things on sale & put them away.

I am feeling a little tried and run down today but I think it's only a case of having a busy week with lots of late nights, anyway I hope that's all it is not me getting sick again. We have had some thing on every night this week- Presentation Night, Art Night, Drama Night, Army Cadets, Football and of course when your out every night you don't have a proper evening meal. I'm not a big daytime eater so I must have a good dinner, besides we miss having a good catch up around the table.

Did any of you Aussies have a bet on the Melbourne Cup?? I backed the winning horse "SHOCKING" but despite working in the racing industry for many years I am the last of the big spenders(not) when it comes to backing horses, but never the less $68 was a good little return for me.

I had 2 young foxes get into the chook pen. DS forgot to shut the door. I lost 3 hens & the rooster, another hen that they had started on before I went running down the back screaming(must have looked a sight in my pj's and work boots) is recovering with a bit of TLC. I have had to separate her as the other hens were picking at her wounds. Aren't chooks cruel even to their own. It's so true what they say. They really are cannibalistic.




During the week I moved my herbs into these tubs. With not much water it will be easier to look after them. I planted some new Parsley & Basil as the others had gone to seed and then moved my Mint, Comfrey, Aloe Vera, & Spice Plant. These ones will be easier to control now their in a tub as they tend to go wild and take over everything. Herbs are so dear to buy from the supermarket couldn't believe the prices when I had a look last week. It costs nothing to grow a few herbs, always fresh when you need them not wilted, limp & dying like the poor ones in the shop. How they ever have any flavour beats me if I had use them I'd rather use dried herbs.


Anyway I planted these out at the beginning of the week & gee they have grown so much already. I will have to take another photo to show you just how much!!
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend

CAROLINE xoxo....

WEEK-END RIDING

Emerald riding Quarter Horse Stallion "Hootchy Kootchy Bid"

What did you and your family get up to on the week-end???

Caroline xoxo...

THRIFT SHOP FINDS!!

Have a look at my beautiful thrift shop finds for today.

These 2 lovelies cost me a grand total of $1.50 & while they are not in the best of condition they have come up not to bad with a little TLC.






I will wash them again and add some borax to the water as this can help restore softness.
(2 Tbsp per 10L water)



I usually make my own Wool Wash here is the recipe-



WOOL WASH

4 Cups of Pure Soap Flakes
(I grate sunlight soap but if you want to you can just buy a box of Lux Flakes)

1 Cup of Methylated Spirits

2 Tbsp. of Eucalyptus Oil

Combine & store in an airtight container. I usually use about 2 Tbsp. dissolved in hot water then added to the cold water in my laundry tub.

Here is another recipe for Wool Wash that someone gave me. I haven't had the chance to make it yet as I still have some of my usual homemade wool wash left. So I can't vouch for it, sounds nice though. I love the smell of Lavender on fresh laundry.

If anybody has tried it let me know what it's like???



LAVENDER WOOL WASH

4 Teaspoons Dried Lavender


1Litre boiling water

500g of Pure Soap
(Once again I guess you could use Lux Pure Soap Flakes but I will grate & use Sunlight Soap) It really is much more economical to grate your own.

1 Tablespoon Borax

Steep the Lavender in boiling water overnight. The next morning strain it through some muslin. ( When things call for this I just use a large men's hankie) Retain the Lavender Water.

Combine the grated soap, Lavender water and borax in a saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring until blended. Remove from heat. This will cool to a soft white jelly. Store in a jar & seal.

You will need 1/2 cup of this to hand wash woollens or 2-3 cups in a washing machine to wash blankets.


That's all for now, time to get down off my soapbox LOL!!
CAROLINE xoxo

DINNER!!

This is my DS's favourite dinner at the moment.

Y-Bone Steak sprinkled with French Onion Soup mix,

wrapped in alfoil & baked at 180deg for 40Min's

Served with Creamy Potato & Broccoli

He would eat this every night at the moment if he could.

What did you have for dinner??......

IN MY GARDEN

this morning i saw......

1 Kookaburra having a Cricket for breakfast

A family of Magpies

Rainbow Lorikeets also having breakfast And telling each other how good it was. (They were VERY vocal)

Lots of Noisy Miners (Mickey Birds)

Willy Wagtail sung a beautiful song

A Storm bird who also makes a beautiful sound. Am quite surprised he has chose to live here of late, I think he likes the mulberries.

Lastly one of my favourite visitors a Blue Crane.

Sorry no photos of the birds they were all to quick for me hurrying around the garden doing their morning rituals, but here is some photos of our resident Bearded Dragon, isn't he/she(does anyone know how to tell the diff) awesome.

He is so quiet -as you can see from the close-up photo. Still gives me the fright of my life sometimes when I don't see him & nearly step on him only to have him scurry off at the last moment. We once had a few Bearded Dragons around the garden but at the moment there only seems to be the one. I do hope the others come back. We have so much development around our town at the moment the wildlife seems to be diminishing. It's not the sleepy country town it once was.

I am trying more then ever to create a safe refuge now days and the appearance of the Blue Crane & the Storm bird, 2 birds I have never seen in my garden before have heightened that.


Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday

CAROLINE xoxo

GETTING BACK

I am finally getting back to things, after being sick for quite a while & then feeling lethargic and unmotivated to do anything other than the bare essentials. I think I am back to my usual self and hope to be back blogging. Don't know what about?? My life has been forced quiet the last few months.

After being sick I am now a good advocate for kidney health, did you know you can lose 90%use of your kidneys before realizing it, but by then you are already up s#*! creek- without the paddle of course.



Thank you so much to everybody who has left me kind & thoughtful messages, thank you also to all my loyal followers who are still following me despite the fact I haven't blogged for so long. I hope to be able to catch up on every ones blogs over the next week or so. It is interesting to see I have still have had quite a bit of traffic at my blog despite the fact I haven't been posting. Maybe just passing through on the way to another blog. Who Knows!!

Lastly my sincere apologies to Margaret at Margaret's Ramblings she hosted Oopsey for me and I never got to do a post for her as I was right in the middle of my treatment. Where is the little bear right now?? Does anyone have a clue?? I have received no comments saying she is over at someones blog. Will have to try & track her, the kids have been asking & asking.

Thank you so much the world of blogging truly is a wonderful place.

CAROLINE XOXO

BACK TO SCHOOL

School Holidays are over and the kids are back to school now until our spring vacation in September. We have all had such a great time these Winter Holidays with a little bit of everything mixed in. We were very lucky at the start to have Soldier Boy come home for a visit and were all able to get away on a short break.

Emerald has worked hard at her casual job these holidays and has just gone out & bought her first car herself. A big pat on the back from Mum for achieving this all before her 16th Birthday & many tears from Em when she suddenly realized that buying her car was the cheap bit it's all the extras that cost-Rego, Insurance etc. Anyway it's 3 mths before she can get her licence so she will have to be happy sitting in the driveway behind the wheel for a little yet!!LOL. Her Car is a little Toyota Corolla Hatchback, it is a manual which is important to me as I wanted her to learn first up in a manual as opposed to an Automatic. Emerald thinks the most important thing is

A. It's Red

B. It has Mag Wheels

C. It has a 6 Stacker CD Player

Can't blame her for that though I probably would have thought the same at her age.(Funny how our priorities change isn't it)

Lane has had a good report from his Eye Specialist and it seems his eyes have improved remarkable in the last 6mths. So much in fact he should only have to wear glasses for another 3-4yrs. He also no longer has to do the sight therapy exercises he was going to have to do. Now that's a saving of about $1 500 for Mum. Pheew So glad I held off on those now. These holidays we also had the trip to the dentist. Lane got the all clear SURPRISE !! with Emerald having to get just one small filling.

I also celebrated my Birthday. Of course I was spoilt by everybody & got some nice little bits & pieces, some I really really had wanted for a while. Thank you everyone for listening to all my hint dropping even if I thought you weren't listening. HA HA!!

My Birthday has always fallen on the winter school holidays even when I was a young one in my first years of school. Why do I remember that you ask?? Cause I had always wanted to take a cake in for my Birthday to share with my class and never got to. Mmmm I try to not let it disturb me much these days!!LOL.

Have to take some photos today so I can share all my lovelies with you tomorrow.......

OKAY Better be off to make some school lunches.

CAROLINE xoxo

LEMON & KIWI FRUIT TART

Here is the recipe for the Lemon & Kiwi fruit tart I mentioned yesterday. I used a prepared pie base just because I had one in the freezer I wanted to get rid of.

Of course if you make your own the taste will probably be superior, but if you are in a hurry with guests coming for dinner and need something for a scrumptious dessert the preparation time for this tart is only about 10Min's with a prepared flan.

2 Eggs lightly beaten

1/3 Cup Lemon Juice

1/3 Cup Castor Sugar

1/3 Cup Thickened Cream

2 Kiwi Fruit, Sliced

1 1/2 Tbsp. Lemon Flavoured Spread

Combine eggs, juice, sugar & cream in a jug, pour into your previously prepared pastry flan. Place flan on oven tray, bake in a slow oven for approx 45Min's. or until set. Cool. Arrange Kiwi fruit over tart, brush with warmed lemon spread. Refrigerate until set.

Now about the pastry for the flan, I keep a prepared flan in the freezer for emergencies. eg-Late notice visitors or if I make my own I cream about 125g butter & 1/2 cup sugar together. Add 1 beaten egg & some salt & vanilla essence mix well. Sift 1 1/2 cups S.R Flour & 1/2 cup cornflour and fold into mixture.

Turn onto a floured board & knead. Roll out the required quantity. Cook at 180' -200' C for 15-20Min's.

This makes more pastry than you need for 1 pie I wrap the remaining in grease-proof paper & store it in the fridge. Of course you can use your usual pastry recipe.

Another thing I do is for making Lemon Tarts, Lemon Cheesecakes etc. I always try to use Bush Lemons as they are far more ... well ...Lemoney.LOL The taste is far different to run of the mill lemons from the supermarket. Bush Lemons are the trees that usually grow wild big thorns-about 2 deadly inches long and rough skinned fruit. I saw in a catalouge recently they are now selling these commercially.

Don't forget to serve it with a good dollop of cream.

ENJOY!!

HOLIDAY'S

As promised in yesterdays post here is some photos of the kids on the horses on our mini holiday. Nothing like a 7 000 acre paddock to ride in.




Since getting back I have been surfing around trying to catch up on a few blogs. Thank you to all that leave me such lovely comments -even when I'm not blogging regularly. I love getting comments it really makes my day.





I am a bit disappointed about missing out on sitting around "The Biggest Kitchen Table" with Rhonda at her blog Down to Earth. I have read back on her posts and will still probably follow through and do my own audit over the next week or so.

It seems despite my good intentions I still need to give myself a shake every now and again as I stray away from my own principles & beliefs.

I don't think I would have joined in on the "No Spend Week" anyhow. Although I do, do "No Spend Weeks" at times.

Sometimes I breeze through and other times I fail miserable, BUT I do try & I think one day is better than none, two is better than one ETC ETC...

Being school holidays it wouldn't have been successful anyway. On School Hols I tend to do my own "audit" of the children's wardrobes and stock up on what they need. Since getting back from hols we have also been to the Eye Specialist, the Dentist & the Hairdresser along with doing a big grocery shop.

I can now proudly say I have for 1 year now (I started 30 June last year) only grocery shopped every 2-3mths(mostly 3mths) the savings on this alone are simply amazing. I still shop for fruit & veggie nearly every week but apart from that we usually try to do without if we run out. I know this is easier for me than a lot of people as I have my own milk, meat & eggs or am able to buy these cheaply from other locals if I am short. I have pulled out the old bread maker and once again am making all our bread. I wish I had the time to make it by hand -simply love the kneading...but I don't. I try not to be to hard on myself if I don't succeed with things at least it means I have room for improvement.

Am off to make a Lemon Tart for dessert tonight I won't be making the pie crust though as I have a bought one in the freezer I wish to use...Homemade ones are better but must remember what I just typed. Don't be to hard on myself!!

I shall take some photos & post the recipe for you all.

CAROLINE xoxo

A FEW DAYS AWAY!!

We have just come back from a few days away. It is School Holidays here at the moment and we were so lucky to have this coincide with Soldier Boy having a few days off.

Wow the chance of that happening in the Army - 1 in a million.

Soldier Boy has been away for a few months so it was wonderful to have him home again. Soldier Boy really did need to come home though, JUST to have some home cooking he has been living on Ration Packs for months and has lost alot of weight. For those of you that do know him, know he has no weight to lose. LOL Only wish his Mum was inflicted with the same thing - All muscle no fat!!

The other kids enjoyed having their Big Bro home & lots of fun was had by all. We went out to a Cattle Station approx - 8hrs from here. No Phones, No Internet, No T.V just each other for company LOVELY!!

MMmmmm no heating though could have done with that one, not a day over 10degrees and strong westerly winds - it was freezing. Luckily as we come from that kinda country we were well prepared. Lots of hot comfort foods and plenty of warm blankets in the swags.

AND....

Just to show we couldn't get away from the technology all together I caught the kids at one time in the back seat of the car watching the Car DVD player. Ha Ha!! On another note, it is so nice now to be able to share the driving on long trips with the Soldier Boy.

See you all tomorrow when I post some photos of the kids holidaying on the horses. Hope you all have a nice evening or day to my northern hemisphere readers.

Caroline xoxo

FRESH ORANGES!!

What a lovely gift

To come home & find a big bag of fresh oranges from a sweet friend of mine.

Am hoping the oranges are as sweet as H****.
Aren't friends just delicious.

CINDERELLA'S PUMPKINS

Well okay Cinderella I am not but pumpkins there are, AND lots of them.

I finally got a day at home that was dry enough to pick them!! What's even better than that is the fact that they got a frost on them last week, so this should ensure they have a good shelf life.



I haven't planted any Pumpkin, Luffa, or Gourd seeds in years. Every year they just seem to self sow themselves and there they are back again the next year. This spring I will be planting some pumpkin seeds though as I would like some different varieties.



Last night we had yummy Pumpkin Soup for dinner. The soup my family like best is when I make it with Coconut Cream and Red Curry Paste. We also had homemade Garlic Bread to accompany. I had made quite alot of Garlic Bread a few weeks ago and frozen it. Even better than our homemade Pumpkin Soup & Garlic Bread was my families company at the table and last night believe me they were in fine form. I think they are very very excited with the School Hols starting tomorrow and the fact that we may be in for a visit from Soldier Boy sometime next week. YIPPEEE!!!



Caroline xoxoxo

THE THINGS KIDS DO......

When your not watching.......

but they should learn not to take evidence Mum may find!!

Ha Ha specially on my camera Duh!!

I have since downgraded my children's status from Kitchen Hygienist's to

Kitchen Festies!!

Doesn't Chloe look so darn cute in these photo's though?? Ssshh... don't tell the kids I said that.

BRISBANE

What do you do when you forget to take your jumper on a trip to Brisbane in the winter time ??

You go to the Brisbane Convention Centre........

And stand over one of the heating vents.... Mmmmm blows lovely warm air up your shirt. So I am told. Personally I didn't try it myself, I was wearing a dress and didn't want to do a Marilyn Monroe reenactment.

I wanted to go on the big sky wheel at South Bank Brisbane, but nobody would go on with me bunch of scardee cats. You can see Emerald standing in the foreground of the photo. I thought it would be good to see the city lights from up high and maybe take some good photos. The sky wheel stands about 60 metres high, weighs 350 tonnes and has about 46 fully enclosed climate controlled capsules that they call of all things "Gondola's". Apparently the views are fantastic as it is right next to the river.

Anyone been on it??

OOPSY HAS ARRIVED......

She's off again this little well travelled bear. This time she rocked up to the Decadent Housewifes doorstep begging to be allowed in. Trouble was she didn't know she was going to have to contend with WOLVES!!!

If you would like Oopsy to visit you on her around the world tour just follow the Decadent Housewifes blog and when she calls for Oopsys next holiday destination leave a comment. Before you know it she could be on your doorstep.

Oopsy would really like to experience some other parts of the world. She said England/Europe really take her fancy and wouldn't mind popping over to Ireland for a while either.

Have a great day I am sure Oopsy will don't you wish you could join her!!

BREAD...

Honest Bread is very well- it's the Butter that makes the temptation.


-Douglas Jerrold.











Have pulled the breadmaker out again of late and am back to baking fresh bread everyday. MMmmm don't know why I ever stopped.......

NIE NIE

When I read Nie Nie's blog -

I Laugh, I cry, I feel blessed, I am joyful, I am sorrowful,

I feel humbled.

BUT.......

Most of all I feel Thankful.

Nie Nie's blog button is on my sidebar. Make it yours too, and rejoice with this beautiful strong woman.

CAROLINE xoxoo

WARM WINTERS DAY & A CAT.

Just walked into my sons bedroom to see what he was up to.....

I can't think of a better way to spend the Queens Birthday Holiday then curled up on your bed with the warm winter sun streaming in on you. Of course cats always know the best place to be and "Jayden Victor" is no exception.

I'm surprised though that he has even changed out of his PJ's. Lane that is not the cat!! LOL... but I will not be the least surprised if the bed doesn't get made today. Care Factor.. NONE.

BACK HOME AGAIN!!

I know, I 've been a bit slack in the blogging department AGAIN!!

Must say I do miss it though, but more the catching up on every bodies blog and leaving a comment. Looks like I'll have a lot of catching up to do this week.

I have been back out home to Roma again. This time to pick up some furniture. We are so lucky to have such good friends there. Friends that have helped & stood by me through thick and thin. True Friends!!

The kids all love going back to there roots, catching up with the kids they grew up with and making you realize as you watch them hanging out together how much they really all have grown.





This is one of the only times the kids have been out to Roma and not visited their Daddy's grave. In fact they didn't even ask to. I have been puzzling over this for days since we have got back but have not said anything to them. They know what they want to do and for me to say anything may make them feel as if they should or have to. I have always let the kids lead the way here -talk if they want to or not if they don't. I think this has been the best way. What do others think??









See the photo above doesn't she look so "at home"

It just goes to show you can take a girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl. DD declared to me that she would love to go back to her old school St Johns to finish her senior year.


Mmmm I swear the Ute never used to be THAT full of kids -They really have grown. Seems like there is more toy dogs and less working dogs as well now or maybe it's just a new breed.

Hope all my Aussie readers are enjoying their long weekend.

CAROLINE XOXO

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

GUEST POST-EMERALD

This is a poem my daughter wrote and as I am having a blogging blank.....today(my mind is waterlogged after the last couple of days. LOL) she wanted to post her poem.

I hope you all like it and will leave her a comment.....Thank you!!

This poem I wrote, and hopefully it will give people the inspiration to live life to the fullest.
-Emerald(15)

MY POEM

"Something to read everyday
Something to make you smile
Something to say when you’re sad
Or just every once in a while

Maybe it’s to lift your spirits
Or maybe it’s for when you cry
You’ll always remember these lyrics
This poem you’ll remember til you die

In this life you’ll have many moments
Times you’ll never forget
Places you’ll see and go
And sometimes you’ll have regrets.

They’ll be things you want to change
Things you’ll want to take back
But that’s how your life was suppose to be
And that’s a matter of fact

One day you’ll remember the things you’ve done
And the adventures that you’ve had
Always remember the good times
Smile and don’t get mad."

By Emerald

FLOOD PICTURES

We live in the major catchment area for Somerset Dam.

One of the dams that supplies South -East Queensland with water.

Somerset & Wivenhoe Dams were built to stop Brisbane's major flooding & of course for water

storage/usage. Brisbane of course can still flood but from local water run off.

The water from Somerset is let down into Wivenhoe, that then supplies

Brisbane with it's water.

"Stanley River"



Stanley River flows into Somerset.

Wouldn't you hate to be "Ted" at the moment,

with all his livelihood under water

This is "Teds house usually surrounded by a sea of green turf,

now surrounded by a sea of water.

You can read more about the Stanley River & Somerset Dam here

RAINING!!

Rain, Rain go away come again another day!!

Our district is in flood at the moment. The rain has been unrelenting since yesterday morning. It is so so wet.

The children have had to come home from school as they have just closed all the schools in the area.

This morning when I awoke I found the Guinea Pig cage had become a dam during the night, the cage was actually holding the water in. Poor pigs were scurrying around trying to find a dry spot.

They were all wet & scruffy but looked incredible cute we made them some hot porridge which they devoured quickly & it soon warmed them up. Then we moved their cage and gave them dry bedding.

Instead of continuing on with my Autumn cleaning today I have declared, what we call in our house "Doona Day". Quilts & rugs on the lounge, T.V or a loved book or just having a good chat. No housework/homework allowed but something yummy to eat and we will have a great day together.

Hope you have a great day too.

Caroline xoxo