. . . it is time . . .

Preparing for Mark to arrive Michael's brother Mark is repatriating to Australia after 18 years. We have prepared the front room (it was the craft haven, which is now in the garage) and are looking forward to his arrival on Friday.  He will live with us until he settles into a job etc.

I had purchased these measuring cylinders and arranged the with some other glass wear in the corner of the bench.  The hot drink things were in that corner.  They are now all very neatly arranged in the opposite corner and make a tidy tea station with the teas we bought at the Ekka last Monday.

Sunday, 21 July I went into work for a few hours today to try and get on top of some pressing matters.  It was very foggy on the drive in.  I ironically thought I think this is what it looks like inside my head at the moment.

Road trip preparation As we are about to head off on a road trip for two weeks I thought I would prepare for updating the blog via mobile technology.  This is done on my iPad. I have downloaded and enabled Google+ to both the iPad & iPhone and have taken these photos to test this morning.  Taken on the iPad  Taken on the iPhone.  I just need to organise my clothes; the food; the first aid kit; the toiletries and we will be set to head off on Thursday afternoon. 

Kira's bed I have been to numerous linen parties, having replenished the doona supply and some towels.  the 25% off everything in january led me to a big buy up for all our beds.  They look lovely too. Lachlan's bed Mine (& Michael's) bed

The rain resulted in significant flooding in the Ipswich and Brisbane areas.  The poor chooks coop was awash as well, so they were invited up to the back patio.  When the rain had stopped they needed to dry themselves off :)

Chooks We thought they were off the ;lay, then we found these around the back of the coop!!! Sunday evening tree climbing a quick outing to a park  and some physical exertion to finish off the weekend Christmas - are we ready? Friends A cuppa with Terri on the 'observation deck' as the kids swim Moet with Karen and Carolyn at our Christmas gathering  Christmas Morning My gift to children was to enjoy as swim with them.  I don't go in very often THe dinner table before we ate  After Christmas  The buddy chef prepares her pizza pans

We were having problems with the leaves and flowers from the bottle brush all washing into the pool when it rained, as we are on the lower side of a slope. So I had a though we should remove the garden and make an area where we can sit and watch the kids swimming. Before Preparation Michael did an amazing amount of work removing the trees bit by bit. The kids thought it was fun too. We needed to get a stump grinder in to remove ehat Michael couldn't get out. I couldn't get this to rotate!!! Here is video of the activity Then I purchased 30 sq metres of 2nd hand pavers from Gumtree from the Gold Coast.  So off to Abel we went and got a truck for 24 hours to collect them.  They lay nicely on the tray of the truck We stacked them neatly I'm sure I have something for that blister  I did have a little mishap as I was driving the truck out to return it!!!  Kira and Dad inspect the damage tot he p...

A day at Movie World my Superheros with some characters from Movie World Michael with the new bookcase purchased from Gumtree a rare sight - a clean desk as I leave work for holidays Kira helping me clean the patio ceiling in preparation for the 'party'

How lovely it was to have Bronnie come for afternoon tea. It was a real win:win, because the house was cleaned before she arrived. Kira vacuumed and had an amazing discovery in the laundry under the washing machine. She can now answer the eternal question "what happens to the other sock?" She found 8 plus a handkerchief!!!! We had a lovely catch up and enjoyed our afternoon tea. Visitor cake; GF chocolate brownie; cupcakes from the markets; flan from Bronnie