Our house

Moving is going to be a little more complicated than usual.  Although not as insane as moving a new born and two kids from QLD to Vic.

It is over 3,000 from Melbourne to the wheat belt of W.A.  Lucky for us it has great coastal scenery.  A week of travelling should do it.  I hope the dog survives.

Even in country W.A. the house prices are climbing and I really didn't know of all the hidden costs that are involved in buying a house.  It isn't just a matter of having your bank loan and 20%.  There are solicitor fees and building inspection fees and then there are rates until June next year!  And we haven't even paid for the house yet.

We will be lucky to get there and have enough money to furnish the house.

We do feel very very lucky to be able to buy a home.  And we are all committed to making the house and the garden warm and beautiful and a real home to all of us.  Something we have needed for ever.

One special part of our house will be the internal fence and gate that will set off Samuel's room.  More photos when we land but here is the inspiration.

Getting ready to go

She might be 16 years old but she has a lot of new stuff.  The important stuff like battery and tyres.  Her interior and brakes are in great condition and she only has 167,000 km on the clock.  And she is my fav colour : blue.

Molli

My beautiful son.

After a whim took us to a very wind swept ocean beach we took these photos.  I look awful!  But I clipped some lovely photos of Thomas.  They are beautiful to me.  They capture his handsome face.

Im so proud of him.  He is struggling a little bit to get in the zone.... but he is trying to get back into study and I mean really trying.  He is going to be such a wonderful man in this world.  He will contribute great things.

 

Changing jobs : dedicating some proper attention to my small business

Starting a new phase in my life.  After over a year of having to put off sewing etc because of work commitments - well now I have to put off work commitments and learn to organise and juggle home, kids and small business.  In a way it is about time.  On the other hand the teens are making it really hard and a lot of the time I want to run away down to the shed, to my own sewing space, and hide from their anger and demands.

Sometimes I only get a small window of opportunity to create.  So I am taking the advice of a successful business person, and I am keeping a very visual and sample like journal of everything I touch, look at and create.  The reasons are many.  Like being able to duplicate something that turns out great.  Im going back over my short and medium term goals.  I might be a failure of a mother but Im not going to fail at small business.  My screens, quilts and boy dolls wont, after all, be able to talk back or tell me to bugger off.

I think I have always been a little scared of my children.  Scared of them making a scene, of being too strong for me to handle, of them being disappointed in me.  I dont think I really let them get away with too much.  Sometimes I think I have always been a doormat.  It varies from day to day depending on how hard they are fighting me.  I really just want them to finish their education and find a job that doesnt make them physically sick and then they can get on with making their own lives.  It feels kind of sad, but I will be glad, as long as they are financially ok, when they pack their bags and go out on their own.  Im tired of fighting teens.

So right now Im crocheting a cat and Im working on my lists.  Next week - one of the short term goals - Peter has promised that we will make 3 more screen frames.  Ive so much hand quilting to do.  But Im happy in that.  Just have to get the right lighting and get going again.  I LOVE hand quilting.

In the back of my mind is the question : "what if Im successful with my screens and have to make heaps?"  Im jotting down some ideas about how I would cope with that.  There has been an offer of shared work shed space from a friend.  That dedicated work space for frame making would be great.  I, being me, would probably always want to make the screen covers.  But there are some great sewers out there and I might be able to get someone to come and help me make the covers.  That would be exciting : to have enough orders to HAVE to employ someone.  I think I can get the making design and steps tight so I can make up to 5 a week.  I couldnt really hope to sell any more than that.  Could I?

I wonder if it is a common problem - to wish to be successful in a cottage industry but then to dread success?

Well apron on - domestic bliss calls - cleaning up Sam's painting left overs and dishes as always.

I walked back from Sam's school this morning.  He is really upset that he doesnt do well with his writing.  He has been really sick with the flu and chest infection and today he really didnt want to go to school.  But he is there.  Had a really great talk with the student welfare teacher.  All the kids and all the teachers are great.  Hope this gets resolved.  Ive asked that he is given writing work sheets that he can finish.  He gets upset when all the other kids finish writing tasks and he doesnt.  The teacher hasnt responded to my requests before.  I hope she tries it this time.  I cant be dragging him to school every morning.  He has a right to a happy primary school day.

Ive been working on  my first hook book for sale.  Its ok.  The pages inside are beautiful.... but I am going to undo the ouside cover and redo.  I can make it look sensational and then I will be happy to sell it.

Dishes, guinea pigs and sewing.... mmmmmm..... well I will fix up the animals but then Im going to leave the dishes and go sew.  Other wise it just never happens.

A beautiful sunny day here with intense clear blue sky.  Thank you God.  I just cant handle another rainy day.

It's my birthday today. 

Looking back on the last year... there have been so many people that regularly make my day.  My children and their father.  My family.  New friends that Ive met through Ravelry and Facebook that has brought me back in touch with friends I went to school with.  Meeting people at playgroup has meant new friendships and a church fellowship just across the road.... that has meant so much to me.  My dear friends J, L and more... who love me even though I now live far away.

My children have become more settled.  My tiny business is beginning to take off. 

I live in a wonderful country that enjoys freedom of speech, freedom of pursuits of happiness, freedom of religion. 

I feel like Ive been given so much this last year.  My goal for this next year is to concentrate on giving back.

About 10 (100) years ago. Those two were always bigger than me LOL

Saturday, sunny, 21 degrees, getting ready to go to Melbourne

Woke up to a sunny day and the lawns are done! (well yes I got energetic last night)

Sam in a really happy mood helping me by reading his books while I make the beds.

Ive swept out the back room and the back verandah area. I can feel I am very close to having the house ready for "show throughs" after we come home from Melbourne.

Im a bit confused by getting a negative reaction to my posting about my centre block. I am glad though that because of a dear friend Ive found excitement in considering other people's perspectives. It is fascinating to me how we think we are both looking at a the same thing but infact we are considering different points of view.

A huge lesson in my life is to actually read the words. Yes the voice is missing over the internet blogging system. But the clear words are there and if someone is articulate enough to state clearly a point of view, then I should only hear the words. Its not fair to add my own words. Perspective - variable, words - fairly specific.

working on: two round robins, a christmas quilt, ATCs snowmen, charms, pandas

cravings today: neck massage

Very excited..... working on some Australian Christmas projects and patterns for website.
Cut out patterns for wedding outfit.
Baby has decided commando crawling is too much of a drag and has got up on all fours. Lots and lots of hair now. Unfortunately he is getting around and even though we have baby proofed the house there are things we have to take off him. He cries because he really likes what he finds... but quickly gets over it when we sit on the floor and play with him for a distraction.
Uni ... doing morality and self in children.
Beautiful spring day ... warm air and blossom and blue skies.