Where does the time go?

Where does the time go? We have just been flat out lately and I haven't had a chance to go back through my photos until today. So there's quite a lot! Above is a photo of some fires that are in the army. I took these back in August, but then just this week, Justin has been out fighting a fire that had gone through their creek crossing and come into our lease country at Lyndon. I will have some photos of that in my next blog. 

These are from just down in the hollow below the house here. When the trucks stir up lots of dust, it's actually quite pretty. 

The week before school holidays, my cousin Jess came for a visit and brought here beautiful babies with her! 

Louie and G man 

How cool is this log bridge. The photo doesn't really do it justice. 

Looking for bugs

Jess and Miss Evy. She's so damn cute, even if she does have a resting grumpy face lol. 

"boys!!"

My kids were keen for a brother or a sister but I talked them down to some ducklings! Which we still don't have. 

The first week of school holidays, I had booked Justin and I into this guru at Malanda, to try and fix my hip and his shoulders. I'm not sure if it did work and the 3 days straight of driving after we finished our treatment probably didn't help. I am starting to run again, so we shall see how it goes. 

Anyhow, the afternoons after our treatments we spent site-seeing and exploring the surrounds at Malanda. 

I think missy was in her element, running everywhere around the walking tracks. 

How much does this look like a painting. 

There was a big sign that said "do not feed the turtles" but I have a feeling that these have been fed before! 

Crater lakes. These are pretty cool to see. 

I love this photo. Poor kaka was turning it on because she fell and hurt her knee and no one was giving her any love. 

We stayed at the Malanda Falls caravan park and our camp was literally a staircase away from this waterfall. It was so lovely. Waaaay to bloody cold for me, but the kids had a go at swimming in it. 

Millstream Falls at Ravenshoe. Very beautiful. 

All the rock formations just get me, I love to think about how they were formed all those thousands of years ago. 

And I know that this is most likely a weed, but it's very pretty. I love the furry top on it, was a bit hard to capture without my macro lens.

Curtain Fig, or the Cathedral Fid I can't recall which was which. 

Lake Tinaroo. I have a feeling we might be back here as the big fella discovered that it was stocked with Mangrove Jack.... and proceeded to enthral me about them for the remainder of our stay! 

On our return journey home, we stayed with my sister-in-law and her family and left the gremlins with her, while we went and looked at a property near Gumlu. Our budget ended up being a little bit shy of the actual auction price. Never mind, wasn't meant to be. 

Darcy's horse. 

Gosht the country has gotten dry! We are badly in need of some rain. Fingers cross that some of these storms that have been forecast for this week find their mark. We missed a good one a few days ago. But it would be nice if all the country that got burnt could get some. 

 From my phone 

In my second last blog post I wrote about my Aunty Bev and what a treasure she is, I did not realise just how soon it was going to be that she would leave us with a void that could not be filled. When mum finished work on Monday, we traveled together to Charters Towers for the service, stopping over in Clermont for the night to break up the journey. 

It always seems such a shame to me that we always make such an effort for someones passing to catch up with everyone, but in life, we always seem too busy for the celebrations like, birthdays etc to make the effort to see each other. It is so nice to see everyone and to catch up, I just wish that it were for better circumstances. 

I was only saying to Justin when we travelled to Cloncurry the previous year for his uncles funeral, that we would have to do a trip around to see Bev and all her family on their many properties, but we have been busy.... with life.... with moving... with kids.... and now she's gone. It's so terribly sad! 

Gosh I wish those pair lived closer, but as I was saying to Jess last night, I probably see and talk to her more than some of my closer friends because when we are so far apart we know that we have to make the effort to see each other, but with my closer friends we think "oh they're just there I can do that anytime," and then we don't! 

Jess, Me, Sam (Jess's sister) and Mum. 

Jase (Ange's husband) and I 

As it seems to happen sometimes, when it rains, it pours. My dear friend Ange's father also passed away and the day that mum I left for Charter's, they had a private service for him. I took the opportunity to catch up afterwards for a lunch date and to check on my dear friend. I can't even begin to imagine how my life would be if I lost my mum. I didn't know Ange's dad but he raised a beautiful daughter and that's enough for me.  

Me and Ange. 

As always my photos have loaded in backwards order so this is "Bobby", he came to us from Aunty Mel Hawkins on my birthday, as he wasn't suitable for anyone to be doing any big, fast moving on him, but turns out, he is absolutely perfect for this little lady to get her confidence and her independence on. She has been riding him by herself and when I go to lead her now she goes "no mum, I can do it myself!" 

Smoky afternoons have been pretty standard here lately. 

Meet "Chubba"... talk about cuteness overload.  

Feral child!

Grandma giving us a hand to muster and mouth some wagyu steers. 

Oh and some little lady turned 4 this month!! She's getting so big and doesn't stop talking. I think I had a win with the cake too! Was hot as when I was trying to ice it and it's an ice-cream cake, so I've got my head in the deep freeze trying to do the icing lol. Anyhow, turned out alright I guess! 

I had the pleasure of doing an essence of chi equine course on the last weekend of the school holidays. It was really awesome I really enjoyed it and I loved being able to learn new techniques with my horses. Considering the lack of work they both get, I think they preformed pretty well for me. Now I just need a few days where I can spend with my ponies and implement it. 

The day Ange's dad passed, I drove to town to spend some time with them. It's so great to have 'aunts' and 'uncles' that the kids just instantly take to and can be comfortable around. It makes such a big difference. 

Few more shots from our Malanda holiday. 

Doing some yoga by the falls. 

I was a bit tempted with all the abundance of rain, to consider moving to this part of the world. There was a block for sale. And Justin once told me that he wanted to be a cheese farmer lol. Everything just grows here. I think even I could probably grow stuff! 

Looking for turtles

Atherton Caves. I went here once with mum and the kids thought it was pretty cool. I will have to take them again when they get a bit older. 

Girl love a green landrover! Just like her mumma! 

These dolls just creep me out! 

Herberton Historical Village is well worth a look. I'm sure that you could spend all day here if you wanted to. But the kids only lasted half a day which I thought was pretty good! 

We had to have a scone! Just wouldn't be right otherwise. 

Underwater bomb. 

I mean honestly, stuff just grows here..... surely I could do it!! 

Our camp! I think the big fella wants to upgrade, so he can get a better mattress, but I'm not keen.... unless it has air con lol. 

On our journey North to Malanda we stopped for obligatory fish and chips at Cardwell. 

I love jetty's they are so cool! 

Yummo!!! 

Oh... uncle Justin gets all the smiles!!!! 

This just shows how long it has been since I posted. I also had a birthday. I didn't anticipate that I would be getting a cake, so I baked my own, coffee cake which was awesome.... I even added some banana to it too, which made it so yum....

Then I left to go and collect Bobby from town and in the meantime, Aunty Jess, made me a cake and a beautiful dinner!!! I also go very spoilt with many presents. 

Caramel mud cake!!! Yum

Winner winner chicken dinner! 

And on my way into town, mum rang me and told me she had made we an ice-cream cake (my favourite) and left it in the freezer..... so I actually had 3 cakes for my birthday!!!! Talk about spoilt! No wonder my jeans don't fit! 

I get frowns lol!!! 

Bobby was a hit of course. I think kaka thought it was her birthday! 

I had a surprise gift from my three girls out west, which was awesome. So very spoilt! 

We also ventured up the mountain so watch the sun set. 

Poor Louie, he's not a cuddler and he was surrounded by them lol. 

My two favourite Jesss 

Even further back in time, we ventured up to Mackay to celebrate Nana's birthday. I won't say which one, but it was lovely to spend some time catching up with the family. 

We stopped at Clairview for lunch on our way home. Such a pretty little spot. 

Christian, Darcy, Poppy Eric, Garrett and Justin 

All the grandbabies giving Nana a hug! 

Nice Tie Poppy! 

Cousins. 

Mia, Jessica, Darcy and Garrett

Cormack family 

Muscles!!!! 

Wall family... how good are the shirts!!! 

Aunty Foozy stealing my phone! 

The cake... which we won't speak about!! 

Family breakfast. Kaka spent the whole time basting her pancake with syrup until we had all eaten and were ready to leave and only then did she decide that it was time to eat her pancake! 

Everyone blowing spit onto the ice-cream lol 

Those eyes!!! 

Love this one!!! So true! 

Wow, and that's a wrap for another blog post!! Massive. I must try to get more organised, but I think I say that every time! 

I have recently found this song by Chase Beckham which I really like and I've just finished reading 'The Eighth Wonder" which was pretty good. Not a real page turner but it was still entertaining. 

Anyhow, I haven't even managed to get out of my PJ's as I've been working on this all morning. Justin and G have gone to check on the fire and Kaka is onto her 3rd movie for the morning. So yes, I need to pull my finger out. 

Take care everyone xx