RAIN....RAIN.....RAIN!!

 

 

Well, the wet is setting in. We have been having a lot of rain lately and everything is going green. We have had to mow the grass and even close the windows a couple of times.  Thought I'd share a couple of pictures to show what happens here when it rains. 

 

 

Yes, with the rain comes mud! And I guess the girls were missing that lovely red Malanda mud, so......  I'm not sure of it's beauty properties and whether it's advisable to try this in your home, but it sure beats sitting

inside doing school work!

 

 

 

And then there's the washing off. For some reason the pool doesn't

look as clean as it did before??

 

 

And here's a couple of photos of the view from our back verandah.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

This is how I feel sometimes!! (or is it all the time?) I thought it was so appropriate!

 

Yes, life is always on the go here and not much time to catch your breath.  But we were able to do something as a family this weekend. We visited the Cutta Cutta Caves, just out of Katherine.  This is a tropical cave so it gets more hot and humid as you venture into the cave. We had a guided tour (which is the only way you can do it) and it was very interesting. The girls and I had been back in June, so this time, at 40 degrees outside, it was a whole lot warmer inside. We were all dripping in sweat by the time we emerged.

 

We were able to see some rock wallabies that live in the entrance of the cave, and 2 banded tree snakes in little holes in the rocks, inside the cave. When you get as far as you're allowed to go in the cave, they turn the lights out and boy is it dark!! 

 

Just another display of God's wonderful and creative creation. 

 

The entrance to the cave

 

Some amazing formations

 

 

 

 

Our guide told us there had been a large olive python in the sink in the girls toilets, so of course the girls and I had to go check it out. Instead, we found this Golden Tree snake. He posed nicely for me to take his/her photo! (Although I wasn't sure how close to get as he/she was really checking me out)

 

 

We checked out the boys loo too, but no luck!

 

 

These beautiful birds have been hanging around and when I have time,

 I try and get some shots.

 

 

In other news, we have been having infrequent showers every couple of days so we had to mow the grass yesterday (we as in "Maddy") and it was thick and green in places. The place is really greening up here in the wet.  Things are slowing down but somehow, I'm not!

 

Dave is flat out with work and has started working on a project involving lots of welding in his spare time (one day so far). Cam will be doing a lot of the welding

next week before he leaves.

 

We had new split systems put in the girls rooms on Saturday, so that is a real

 blessing.  Now we are all very cool at night.

 

I have organized a bikky decorating morning for the kids in December,

 so that promises to be messy and a lot of fun.

 

Oh, and in BIGGER news, I am in search of a piano!! Yes, a real one! Not just my keyboard, that has many frustrating issues! I am so excited I can hardly sit still. I don't expect

you'll get much except music out of me when I finally get one!

 Will keep you posted (no pun intended).

 

 

And on that 'note', I'll finish.

 

 

 

 

FIRST PROPER RAIN FOR THE WET SEASON

 

Well, we have finally gotten our first real rain storm of the season!! Yes, it actually does rain here. After 6 months, this wet stuff fell from the sky and made puddles (which of course we had to splash in).  We had 28mm on Sunday and then another 7mm yesterday. I have uploaded a short video just to prove it.

 

Note: I have noticed that the videos don't come up on the emails so you will have to come online to our blog to view them. And about the quality, sorry, when I resize them so they're small enough, they lose quality. 

 

 

And here's a couple of photos too.

 

 

And our lately cleaned pool:)

After going GREEN and being refilled!

 

 

And a puddle!!

 

 

 

As to life here at the moment, Dave is kept busy at work. Looks like he's on course for a 100 hour week this week :(

 The girls and I are flat out trying to get caught up with school.

Lauren is busy working at the child care 4 days a week and Tafe 1 day a week. She is also trying to finish her year 12 schooling and teaching the

5 and unders, Sunday school class.

 Abbi works at least 2 times a week at Brumbys. She also helps out with crèche at church and occasional baby sitting.

Emilee helps out with crèche at church too, and keeps busy antagonising her sisters and playing with knives and wishing she had a tree to climb.

I have been busy trying new recipes to improve our health and well being

 (and the results of too much free bakery food).

I am also teaching the 6 to 12 year old Sunday school class for a while.

The girls have enjoyed being able to cool off in the pool every day.

Chloe and Maddy keep busy setting up different shops, dressing up, pulling things apart with Dave's drill (and rendering them completely useless) and basically being very creative and imaginative.

I have been scouring the local paper every week for garage sale bargains!

We are supposed to get 2 new split air con systems in this weekend

in the girls rooms, so that's a plus.

And that's life!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just posting a couple of latest photos

 

 

We recently had the Hockey family staying with us on their way back to the station. They were taking 10 baby chicks back with them. They were so fluffy and cute!! 

 

 

The sunset from our back verandah.

 

 

We were given a huge bag of stale bread for horse food (Hockeys couldn't take it with them for lack of space), so Chloe and Maddy put it to good use and set up a bakery! Abbi kindly told them the names and prices of the different breads and they were on their way! (which reminds me, it's still there in their cupboard!

 

Luckily it's not in Malanda, or it would be very green by now)

 

 

 

Dave's been busy working and today is no different. He is off to a mine about 500km away. It's an 8 hour trip one way. Home tomorrow. I took him out some coffee before he left. Half of the tautliner is taken up with 4, yes I did say 4!!! tyres! Also taking 2 water tanks each 3.5m wide and a large generator and I don't know what else!

 

By the way, that's Lauren's car in the picture for those who don't know.

 I know, it's a Ford! An ultimate "Holmes" sin,  but beggars can't be choosers!

 

 

 

And finally, something to sum up our life! Enjoy:)