Things are looking up.

G'day. Thank you to my friends in blog land who have commented on my last post and have inquired as to why I was not well yesterday. I had a small bout of gastric trouble, must have been something I had eaten and the only thing I can think of was a chicken sandwich at lunch time. I have also taken today off work as a precaution. But will be back on deck tomorrow. Have to be well tomorrow in any case as it is my birthday and some of my work colleague's are taking me out for lunch. There is another reason things are looking up. The estate agent rang me earlier to say the lady who missed out on the property due to a higher bid from the couple  we signed a contract with and then had finance trouble a few weeks ago, is still very much interested and has put in a tentative offer subject to coming back here on Saturday to have another look and to do a bit of measuring for furniture etc. The agent wouldn't tell me the offer as she was in the process of typing it all up and emailing it back to this lady. Also there is someone else coming Saturday afternoon for a look and is also interested, so you never know we may sell yet. The photo is part of the middle section of our back yard. When I took this pic I didn't notice the tractor, I was too busy looking at the flowers and trying to get a good shot of them. All of the pics that I have added to this blog were taken when we put the property up for sale, they are a reminder to us of how beautiful it is here and of all the work we have done. So I was a bit surprised to see the tractor sitting there as it didn't make an impression at the time, but I think it adds to the picture. The aerial on the machinery shed is for hubby to watch the TV that he put in there some years ago, funny thing is when he is in there doing something he very rarely watches it, that's not to say he doesn't have it on as he does, usually if there's a motorbike race or car racing on, you can bet the telly will be on but when I've asked "Who's in front?" he will often say "I don't know I've been too busy to watch!!! He also has a wood heater in there, but usually it will go out as he forgets to put wood in it, because he's so busy, that's his story anyway... The machinery shed is not my concern and I usually only venture there to get the quad bike out or to take him a cuppa or a sandwich etc. He will miss all these little extras but the place that we hope to move to has a four car garage and lots of room in there for him to muck around, though the lovely pics of our property will be replaced with pics of a nice but small garden which should be covered in the first few posts I publish. Oh dear, if that's all I have to worry about I'm laughing aren't I? Take care...

G'day. Well, I am home from work much earlier than normal, something seems to have upset my normally robost stomach. Anyway I didn't want to pass any bugs on to my workmates, so decided to hit the road and rest up at home. But, as usual as soon as I walked in the door I saw that I had things to do and I am the type that likes to get things out of the way before resting. I can't just lay on the couch and read a book if I know something need cleaning, fixing or whatever. It's always at the back of my mind that it's patiently waiting for my attention, so best to get it out of the way if I want any kind of peace. Hubby, bless his heart had traisped dirt and  mud onto the kitchen floor in his hurry to retrieve something he had left on the kitchen table. He explained he didn't have time to take off his boots and really didn't think he had made any mess at all, but he couldn't dally and ponder  his deed as a bull had gotten out of one of the paddocks. This of course all happened while I was at my work, so I was not impressed to have a clean up job awaiting me, crook tummy and all. But, it's done now and hubby did make a point of telling me that I need not worry about the bull as he too was safe and sound. I wonder why he thought I was worried about the jolly bull. Did I look concerned, did I ask was the bull ok, was I distressed about the fat lazy bull getting out? NO, no and no. As I said, this all happened while I was blissfully unaware of what the bull was up to. Mind you he is a nice bull, even if he is fat and lazy and I know he would have just trotted back in the paddock with hubby behind him on the quad bike. Anyway reading that book while reclining on the couch sounds very inviting and I may just make my way there in a minute. The photo is looking across one of our paddocks not far from the house. The old grey dead tree is simply stunning in it's own right. We have left it standing as sometimes we make a feature of it when we have a gathering of family and friends around. These huge get togethers are usually once a year around October and we hang lights from the tree and at night it is a sight to behold. Of course hubby has to climb to attatch the lights and the power cord is extremely long to reach to the old dairy which is the grey building on the left, this is also where my chook house is.I will miss these gatherings when we leave here, though we will still have them to some extent, but they will be on a very small scale. Take care...

Another beautiful day in paradise.

G'day. Well I can boast again about our beautiful weather conditions here, though in saying this I bear in mind that other parts of the world are not that fortunate. The terrible damage that Japan has suffered, the loss of life of which the toll keeps rising is simply heartbreaking and here I sit after finishing my workday in my lovely surroundings looking out onto the Cherry Tree Range that our property borders and I realise, not for the first time, how lucky we are and that really from one moment to the next we really don't know what life has in store for us, how suddenly everything can change. Yes, I do realise that there are things beyond our control and that we have had our share of disasters here in Australia over the years. The Black Saturday bushfires came very close to us here and at one stage we had to make the decision either to stay and fight the fire or go, thankfully the wind changed and all was well. One lot of friends lost five family members, three of which were very small children and other friends lost their home. I saw a saying in a book some years ago that was something along the lines of: No matter what happens, come the spring the daffodils will bloom again. They may not be the exact words, but, I think you know what I am getting at. The photo is looking from our back yard across the paddocks that are part of our property. A storm was approaching and it looked so beautiful that I just had to take a pic of it. Take care...

Another beautiful day

G'day. Well we have been blessed with another glorious day here, the whole long weekend has been great weather wise. The storm that passed through yesterday afternoon freshened everything up and it really looks a treat now. I have been out in the garden deadheading some roses and securing one of the climbing ones to the arch that it grows up. Sadly we lost the large standard daisy that was given to us as a present many years ago, it had slowly been dying over the last few weeks, despite giving it lots of water and some fertilizer thinking that that was all it might had needed, but no, when hubby pulled it out, the base of the trunk had all but fallen away. It was a shame as it was a lovely bush when it was in flower, but we have had many good years of pleasure from it. Strange though as daisies are usually the toughest of plants, not many of them lose the battle even in the harshest conditions. Hubby has gone for a ride on his motorbike, he has just about built this bike from scratch and it's his pride and joy at the moment. I've not been on this one yet and after having a mishap on a motorbike some time ago I am in no hurry to sit my bum on the pillion seat of this one just yet. We had a rather large dirt bike here a little while ago and to my utter amazement hubby suggested I take it for a ride down our rather long drive. Hubby never and I mean never lets anyone be in charge of any of the bikes he has had and there have been a few over the years. I think he must have been out in the sun a bit too long that day, it's the only reason I can think of that  would have prompted him to offer. Needless to say I said "thanks but no thanks, it's a bit big for me". I learn't to ride a motor bike many moons ago, but generally leave it to hubby to ferry me around if we go anywhere on one these days, though after the accident we had I struggle to get on one anyway. The only bike I am in charge of here at times is the quad bike which I  have to ride as a necessity to traverse some of our land and I am more than happy to leave it at that. The photo is of some of the camellia trees here in our garden, we have a number of these beautiful  trees dotted around and they sure look great when in flower. Take care...

Enjoying some peace and quiet

Oh, it nice to have a relaxing weekend and to know that I still have another day to enjoy it. It's late Sunday afternoon here as I write this and we have just had a nice little storm roll through. It's cooled it down a bit at least and has given my garden a nice drink. It's been rather warm here the last two days, so this cool drop is welcome. Hubby as usual, is outside fiddling around, he has been on the tractor slashing a couple of paddocks that have been a bit overgrown and needed tidying up. I have been just plain old lazy and have managed to stay hidden inside the house, though I did do my bit yesterday and finally got the chook shed cleaned out, not much fun shovelling poop,  uneaten food pelletts and old straw out of a decent sized hen house in the heat, but, it's something I should have done some weeks ago. Hubby beat me yesterday to the ride on mower, he seems to have aquired a liking to doing it, funny that, as it's always been my job. I have a birthday coming up at the end of this week and am looking forward to that, not looking forward to getting older of course, but we are going out for dinner and my son and daughter and their partners etc are comimg up and staying the night with us. They both live a few hours away from me, so it's always a treat to catch up. I will be outside on the night of March 19 to have a stickbeak at the Super Moon that is going to make an appearance. There is a lot of debate as to the possibility that this will affect our weather or could possibly be responsible for the earthquakes that have been happening, anyway I am sure it will be worth seeing and I for one don't intend to miss it. The photo was taken standing up in part of our backyard looking down the drive that winds it's way to our front gate. This expanse of gravel widens out higher up from where I am standing and it's the bane of my life. Another job of mine is weed control and odd bits of grass and various weeds love to spring up in this gravel and I am often out with the weed killer and backpack trying to keep it under some sort of control. It does look nice when it's weed free. Hubby is not allowed anywhere near the weedkiller when it's needed  near or around the house. I figure if I accidently kill something I can only blame myself. Hubby is too gungho when using it.He does get to do the paddocks though, where he can't do any real harm, or if he does I don't know about it.Take care...

Starting again.

G'day from beautiful North Central Victoria. Australia. Well, we have recovered from the shock of another sale of the property going kaput. Hard to believe that this has now happened twice, it has taken the wind out of our sails to a certain extent, but we are keeping positive. The agent rang late yesterday afternoon to see how we were and to say once again how sorry she was. She too feels awfull, though it wasn't her fault, she was smart enough to see the interest these people showed in the first place, just a shame that when needing finance, the banks don't always play the game. The agent has assured us that there a few people that have showed interest recently and maybe they can be inticed to pay a visit. We will just have to be patient and wait and see. The house that we were interested in has been taken off the market, but, the guy who owns it has told Ian that he is thinking of relisting it as they have bought another place and have moved to another town, but, to pay his new mortage he needs to sell his former house and that if we want to pay some kind of rent each month, he will keep it off the market and when we finally sell here, the money paid will come off the total cost.It is something to think about. The pic is of Ian and I at my daughters birthday party. After I saw this photo, I decided that a weight loss campaign was in order and have now lost six kilos since early February. Some years ago I went to Weight Watchers and lost a grand total of thirty five kilos, but being a good eater and I really do love my food, I put ten kilo back on, so it was time to do something. Not easy when there is so much yummy food waiting to be eaten, but I know I feel and look better when I am a bit lighter. Take care.

Back to square one.

G'day. Well, sadly we have just heard that the sale of our property has fallen through, the people can't get finance even though we were assured that they wouldn't have any trouble. Hubby has not taken the news very well, but I have always believed that things happen for a reason and am trying to keep a positive attitude. So we start all over again. What a bugger, but that's the way it goes and I always know that there a people going through a lot in their lives, that in comparision this is nothing.I could try to be flippant and say, darn, I will have to make sure the house is always spick and span again and the garden always looking it's best, but, even though the good attitude is still there, it's been a blow to me as well. We have our health, a lovely property with a secure roof over our heads, so it's not all doom and gloom and hopefully at some stage I will be able to write again that we have sold. The pic is of our gorgeous little boy "Lucky" I bought him this bone on the first anniversary of us adopting him and he didn't quite know what to make of it as it was so large, he walked around and around it, until it got the better of him and he started to gnaw on it. It really was much too big, but he gave it a good try and tackled it off and on for a couple of days, but, then I ended up throwing it in the bin. I haven't bought him such a large bone since needless to say. Take care.