batter up ...

Photo a day ...

I think I might need to do a photo a day ... it might get me a little more practised!!

Clair is doing it ... here.

I can hear the tinsel rustling ...

Today I had a spur of the moment trip to Port Lincoln and did a little bit of Christmas shopping.

I said to the big boy and the little boys and the little girl ... you can put the tree up but not the decorations.

They obviously didn't understand as I got home and most of the decorations have been put onto the tree!!

Some fairly dodgy photos!! I am doing an online photography course at the moment and I am just not getting it!!

This decoration was bought at our local Christian Book shop ... I think it is beautiful!

oh dear ...

The first strong wind since the stubble fire and all that soil blowing away.

It is a terrible sight.

Luckily it isn't blowing into our house.

love that red jacket ...

25 days until Christmas album ...

I have been inspired to try one of these albums again ... hopefully this year it will be completed!!

This idea is based on Ali Edwards's albums.

My album cover was inspired by Janelle Wind's cover from this year and last year.

I have made up 13 pages so far!

I love living on the farm ...

Cricket ...

Jack had his second game of cricket today ...

No runs, caught out, bowled an over and did well, only one wide, fielded well.

Still keen!!

We all went in and watched (well John and Jack were in early!!)

One last fire photo ...

A few more photos ...

This is just over the back garden fence - you can just see the black strip.

From over the side garden fence to the paddock - looks a bit closer in this one.

From the road where it jumped over the paddock fence.

Our house in the background.

We went for a drive in the paddock last night to see where it started - 40 hectares of stubble burnt. Thankfully no standing crop was damaged on our farm but our neighbour lost about 5 hectares of wheat unfortunately. The fire was started by lightening.

Today ...

was a day of catastrophic weather ...

we were on the look out ...

I saw a neighbour roaring up our drive (I thank her so very much - Tracey xo) ...

it was the first I knew that there was a grass fire in the paddock next to our house ...

I left with 2 children and absolutely nothing else and then picked up the other two as John arrived home to fight the fire ...

it was very scary ...

when I got home the fire was close to our house but not as close as I had imagined ...

the CFS and local farmers did an amazing job as well as the fire bombers!!!

Thank you to them so very much!

My neighbour sent me some photos to scrap!!

Thank you Jacqui!!

I have some of the burnt area that I will post tomorrow.

On the weekend ...

we went to Adelaide for the Credit Union Christmas Pageant.

It was hot but I think the kids enjoyed it!

We had lots of cold water, squirty water bottles, hats, sunscreen, snacks and two wonderful grandparents and three cousins who made it a lot easier!!

There are over 60 floats but the highlight is the last float ...

Hannah and her new skirt ...

A while ago I saw this pattern on the internet.

I don't think I have made an item of clothing since about year 8 at school in dress making but thought I'd give it a go!!

On our recent patchwork road trip I bought some fabric and after the Santa Sack yesterday I thought I would keep the sewing machine out and try the skirt!!

She seems to like it!! Anything that twirls is popular! She wont wear the miniskirts much anymore because they don't "spin"!!

I will take some more twirly ones later ... too many flies and too much sun in the backyard!

I got the free pattern ... here

I think I am going to make another one but make a few modifications ...

1.buy more fabric!!

2. make the fabric around the skirt less and the length longer

3. make sure I have elastic before I make another one ... I will put that in later when I get it (she just wants to wear it now!! :-)

4. But I am going to make another one!! Stay tuned!!

Now what will I sew next ... ???

Today ...

Well the kids and I were up early to head off to ... cricket!!

Today was Jack's first game for the Scorpions!!

He batted (no runs), bowled an over (no wide balls - excellent!) and fielded a number of shots!

He was pretty pleased with himself!! Can't show any other photos as lots of kids in them!!

Then we came home via Cummins, nearly got cleaned up on the road just south of Yeelanna ... someone decided they liked my side of the road better as they headed towards us! It was way too close to a disaster for me. I felt quite shaken up by it, especially with 4 children in the car.

When we got home I was determined to get this project done ...

a very simple Santa Sack for a special little boy!!

It will be in the post on Monday!!

Now maybe tonight or tomorrow there might be a little bit of scrapping done or my "homework" for a on line course I am doing!

This arrived the other day ...

So we went up to the paddock after school and cricket practise ...
Hannah had her first header ride, in her "party dress"!!!

Yesterday the boys went again and Rohan was apparently very excited because he "drove" the header!!

eight ...