everything grows so fast up here

Well, the garden bed see in construction in my last post was planted out a week ago, and within days little green shoots began to appear, much to everyone's excitement. Our mornings begin with close inspections, lots of oohs and ahs, and big smiles, and for Charles and me, gasps of amazement when we see broad bean shoots coming up in a week. We have planted peas, beans and broad beans, tomatoes, rocket, parsley, beetroot, carrots and bok choy.
Remi is right into it, especially as he helped plant the seeds.

back in brissy

Well, WE are back, both of us. Had 10 mad days in Vic, including a night at Apollo Bay before going to Gillian's for 2 nights, round the Great Ocean Rd, which I haven't driven in many years. It is beautiful. Then back to the farm for a final pack. Went via Sydney where we had a couple of lovely nights at Mat & Jeff's, then here via a night at Simon's where we caught up with mum. We are now residing upstairs at Bec & Helen's, and Charles is spending lots of time catching up with Remi - "Can we have a wrestle, grandpa? is the favourite request of the moment. Jill was over from Vermont (USA that is) arriving the day after us in Brisbane, and by that time my sore throat and headache had added to it a shocking cough, which I am still grappling with. Other than that, everything is wonderful now Charles is here.
We've had lots of rain which is perfect as we are about to plant out the first vegie bed. In the pic here Bec is putting the last layers of the no-dig garden in place, and it now has a solid covering of bird netting to keep of the possums, bush turkeys, rodents and othe hungry critters. We can't wait to eat the produce, and the rate things grow here, it won't be too long.

critters

I am filling in time until I go to the airport this afternoon and wing my way south for a week or so. Haven't seen Charles since Feb 19, so am really looking forward to getting to Melbourne. We have a frantic social calender for the week, including a night at a lovely place at Apollo Bay, 2 nights at Gillian's and various lunch and dinner dates. As well, the Swanny Cinema is reopening this coming weekend (Easter) and we are working on Saturday night. Then we are driving back to Brisbane with as much as we can pack into our new (2nd hand) car, another Corolla, hatchback this time, to be here on April 10. Our friend Jill, from Vermont, arrives on the 13th, then it is Charles' birthday on the 25th. Lots of fun ahead.
Here are some of the critters I have met up here. Hope you like them.

the newest super hero

Rocket Boy has arrived in great triumph. He even visited kindy this week, but was forced to change into street attire due to the threat of either heat exhaustion or drowning from the accumulated moisture under his flying cap. He has suggested that his family all get suitable flying outfits and we can leap into the sky and away together.

angelina ballerina

Only parents of young children will have heard of Angelina Ballerine, but in this house she is the star of the moment. The op shop has again provided the material for an Angelina dress, so here is Remi dressed, he tells me, as a boy Angelina. Last night he and his friend Lucia (dressed as a girl Angelina) put on a show for us. Here is the prima ballerina.

claudia's 60th celebration

Last Saturday night we celebrated Claudia's 60th with a C party...what a great night. There were some wonderful costumes, including a pair of cupcakes; Capt Cook; Cheerleaders (who performed a chant for Caludia); cars; a credit card; and much more. Claudia went as Cleopatrea; I as Carmen Miranda; Helen as Claudia and Remi as Carabos, a mouse character from a ballet he is enamoured with at the moment, Angelina Ballerina;and Bec went as Christ, but when she put on the beard she turned into Charles! We had a very late night or , rather, an early morning, which has taken me some days to recover from. Mum saw out the night as well!

words of wisdom

You may have read an article a few months ago in The Age A2 by Cate Kennedy about the things children say and how we musn't correct them, but leave them experiment with their own language. Remi provided us with a beautiful example of this yesterday. He had said that he wanted to have a sleep after lunch. so lay down and Bec read to him, until, some time later, he quietly told her, in a serious little voice, 'Bec, the sleepiness has gone and now the wakeiness is here in my body. I can't help it.'
The other one was a week ago, when he announced that he was feeling 'fartish'. Perfect, don't you think!
It is Claudia's 60th party on Saturday, and this is what Remi is wearing. I am going as Carmern Miranda, and he is so impressed, he's going as Carmen. We bought some necklaces today in the op shop.
I have been making fabric brooches for the market. Here are 2 examples. It is great fun .