Today I cleaned

Today, I cleaned. I cleaned like a woman possessed. It is something that I have been avoiding lately. Well, since I had two boys and a husband that can't use the rubbish bin and can't put anything away. 

Funnily, I used to be a clean person. I couldn't stand living in a dirty messy house. But one day, I gave up. Just like that. 

Then we got a cleaning lady. Well, two actually. They came together and cleaned. But strangely I always felt uncomfortable about them doing something that I could have done. And I always had to tidy up before they cleaned. Just so they didn't think we lived in a complete pigsty. Then I sacked them. I thought they weren't doing a good enough job and that I could do it myself! Well, I could do a better job, and for a couple of weeks I did. Then I stopped.

Not completely, just mostly. I still cleaned the kitchen and  swept up copious amounts of sand but that was about it.

A few months ago I went along to an Enjo party. Mostly because I just needed to get out of the house and speak to other adults. The sales lady did a great job. She did some demos on the hosts house and I was sold. I was so inspired I couldn't wait for my Enjo to arrive. When it finally did, I realised that my house was twice if not three times dirtier than the one at that party and that Enjo just wasn't cutting it for me. Hmm, maybe I wasn't using it right, but those depressing iron stains on my shower grout just weren't moving like she said they would. And my shower screens weren't clear and streak free either. I stopped again.

Fast forward to about two weeks ago now. One of the new mums from school who doesn't really know anyone asked me to host a Nature Direct party for her. She had just started as a seller and needed so many parties in her first month. Her husband ran off with the nanny and she's been pretty upset about it so I agreed. (Remind me to say no to my husband when he suggests a nanny). 

Inspired yet again but this time by the ability of this stuff to actually prove to me that it can actually cope with the dirt in my house (She cleaned cheap texta drawings off my wall that Enjo smudged and spray and wipe left behind). My order arrived today. 

I combined the Enjo and the Nature Direct Super cleaner and that little magic block and off I went. The grout in the shower has never looked so clean. I could see that orange iron stain being wiped off before my very eyes.

Oh the joy of a clean house. I did both bathrooms - I'd have taken pictures if the bathrooms weren't so disgusting and mouldy. They are clean and fresh and spotless. The floors will no longer leave brown/grey marks on Ebonys knees from the dirt you can't really see (though now it is gone I can see how much was there).

I lost my cleaning mojo there for a while. It was so depressing and a never ending cycle. Dirty house, depressed mummy, can't clean, won't clean, what's the point, so depressing, sucking the life out of me, letting my kids and family down. 

I was letting it hold me back. I couldn't clean it but felt guilty about not doing it and so didn't let myself do anything else either- because I should be cleaning! 

Now I feel I can move on. And amazingly I still am a clean person and I prefer to live in a clean house! I have made a start, now I can keep it clean with my new best cleaning friends,  now I can tackle the rose garden.

One hundred and ninety nine......

200! This is my 200th post. It has been sitting waiting to come for a long time. What should I do to mark this grand occasion? Should I give something away? Should I announce something? Have a party? I really couldn't decide and honestly, I didn't really have the energy or enthusiasm for it. So I'm just writing this post and seeing where I get to.



Life with three little ones is certainly different to life with two. Don't get me wrong, it is filled with fun and laughter and love, but add that extra one in and  the third one changes the game. For a while I was like "This is so easy!" "Three isn't hard" "They don't know what they are on about". Then they start solids. Since then, I feel like I just can't get myself organised. I feel like my life revolves around the kitchen. Breakfast for four people (that's 3 kids and me - husband can fend for himself). Everyone wants something different, but they all want it now. It's mostly OK until one wants more and is still starving even after 3 weetbix.
School lunch next with morning tea. This must be thought out long and hard as it needs to be filling but not too much that he spends all his time eating and doesn't get to play.

After school drop off there is morning tea, more food. Then lunch, followed by afternoon tea.

Then dinner. One has to eat by four thirty at the latest. But she's fussy. None of this same stuff two days in a row. And really only vegies and a bit of meat. That's all she wants. The two boys - got to eat by five. Mostly I make them something they didn't want and nine times out of ten it is disgusting - or so I'm told.
Husband at the moment is on a Gluten Elimination diet. That means regardless of whether I want to be or not I am too. Enough said.

Three different dinners. Three different times.

Then the clean up.

I can see where the old saying of 'Chained to the kitchen sink' came from!

I have grand plans of gardening, sewing, getting fit. Maybe one day I will, but for now my life revolves around kids and food.

Maybe next time I'll share what I feed them! Who knows.....

Minty Ponies

While trolling Etsy a while ago I stumbled across some cute horse fabrics at Thistle and Fox. I just had to have them. The mint is my favorite. 

The second it arrived I knew it had to be matched up with some pinks and greys and other minty fabrics.

I backed it with some hot pink flannel and it turned out great!

This one has already gone to a new home, but I've almost finished a bigger one for Ebony. She definitely
 needs one too!

Spring at last!

We love Spring on the farm. The days start warming, the chooks start laying again, we get foals, lambs and this year a calf.

Daffodils are one of my favorite flowers. The kids love them too. We love their sunny yellow trumpets and Samuel says they are like the sun. For him that means golden. His favorite color. Not yellow, golden.

We love sunny days when we can walk around the farm with the dogs and visit our animal friends.

The shorts have been out already (though Samuel has been wearing shorts most of the winter. Yep, he's one of those people.) of course we still need our gumboots on, the paddocks are still flooded, but will dry up soon with these glorious warm days.

The dam by the house is well over full and the dogs love that they can actually stand in it with out having to swim!

Yep, we love spring!

Campfire fun (but without the camping)

My dad came and stayed with us last week while hubby was in China. We had a great time getting stuff done that has been a bit hard for me to really get stuck into. 

We made a dent in the weeds that had taken over the vegie garden - again. We trimmed Gwen the goats feet -finally. Dad pruned my fruit trees - he's so much better than me at it. And we watched the newest episode of River Cottage Australia. I find it a bit fake and rehearsed but push through it for inspiration. Of which I got! Is is Paul? Well he made damper on a camp fire in the yard. My boys love building fires - picking up sticks and making little mounds everywhere. 

"I know!" I declared on Saturday morning "Let's make a campfire and cook dinner on it!" 

Lots of excited cheering followed.

There was lots of fire poking once it was lit. Lots of smoke too as it had been a bit rainy.

It got going in the end.

More fire poking.

Damper was cooked and then eaten with butter and my homemade apricot jam.

Ebony waited patiently to be put to bed.

The boys waited patiently while Gubby (my dad) cooked the damper

We cooked some stray potatoes we had found in the vegie garden earlier in the day. Wrapped them in foil and threw them in. They were so good.

And of course we had sausages in bread.

So much fun and I think we should do it much more often. We seem to be rushing through the days so quickly and forgetting to add some fun and make some memories. I worry these kids are missing out on so much fun stuff on this farm we are so lucky to live on. I'm feeling we need to slow down and live more simply. 

                       

Envy

This is my pregnany belly the day I was induced with William. He was 12 days overdue.

This is my pregnant belly at 7 months with Samuel - Huge!

For some reason I don't have any pregnant belly photos from Ebony, so here she is the day she was born.

Lately I've been seeing people lots of pregnant women and instantly disliking them. Awful I know. But I can't seem to help it. I seem to be struggling a bit with knowing that there are no more babies for me. I'm all done. I made the decision to have my tubes tide when I had Ebony, and I thought that I was fine with that. 

But then, while I was on the table getting sewn back together my Dr leaned over that big blue drape and told me I was doing the right thing as my uterus was in no condition to have anymore. It was stretched and weakened and he was having trouble stopping the bleeding. It wouldn't hold another pregnancy.

I just nodded at the time. 

But now, 4 months later, I look at Ebony and feel like I'm not finished. It has knocked me over a bit as I had always said I wasn't having kids. Now I have three and feel like there should be more. Crazy! 

So I keep seeing all these pregnant ladies around and have pregnant friends, some just about to have their first, and I envy them. They get to experience that amazing, brand new baby moment and my most favorite bit -  the very first week when they just sleep and feed (and poo) and are so perfect. 

I know I should be happy for them but I can't help feeling a bit selfish and wishing it was me again.

This morning

This morning my trusty sidekick (Miss Ebony) and I were relieved of school run duties and took the opportunity to make the most of the spectacular weather and walk around the farm.

We stopped and took Princess's rug off. Her coat seems to have turned! I reckon she felt much better after some grooming!

Nelson, Mikey and Xav watched us from a paddock over. 

I love walking down the lanes now the trees have shot up. These were planted only two and a half years ago. That's Indy, our Ridgeback. She's a lovely old girl. 

My 'Pride and Joy' Nelson. Can't wait till this fella is old enough to be broken in and ridden. 

Mae, my Jersey cow is due to calf in a couple of weeks, then it will be fun times milking and cheese making again!

The newest addition to the farm is Jerry. He's Nelson's half brother (same mum, different dad). He was born on Friday just been. Within hours we had a massive storm, so he and mum Elle spent the night in luxury in a stable. 

He's such a cutie. Another one for me to ride one day!