37 Black Swans: Big week for Tom

Sunday morning brought cool rainy conditions.
The boys got stuck in to unpacking boxes of Thomas' books and arranging them on the bookshelf in his room.
I did a couple of loads of washing...(love the dryers at the laudromat across the road!!)
Brought in a load of wood as I think this week promises to become a bit cold again.

Thomas has to dress up as a character from Jungle book for Scouts this week..
He decided to go as Baloo the bear...so I made some ears for him...and he'll wear his brown vest inside out to show the furry lining.

Made a batch of Hannah's famous Brownies for school lunches this week...very popular!! (even before they're cooked)

We feasted on the leftover lamb for lunch..

Then headed over to Franklin Palais Theatre for TSO choir concert.
We were lucky enough to secure front row seats...
Amazing program which included familiar Handel's 'Hallelujah Chorus', Vivaldi's 'Gloria', ' Ascot Races' My Fair Lady, and 'Jerusalam' by Parry to finish..just like at the Proms....Fabulous!!

Pre-concert read

After the concert we had afternoon tea at Petty Sessions Cafe (where Phillip and I had lunch a few weeks ago)...Yummy. Great view of the Huon River out the window. we saw a family of swans and later a duck family.

We decided to do a Sunday arvo drive as the weather was fairly grey...

Drove the circuit from Huonville out past Lonnavale and around to Geeveston then Franklin...interesting seeing the forest areas..and a sad to see the clear felled areas of forest along the way.

Monday was a cool day with rain coming and going. Every now and then the sun would braek through and a rainbow appear...lovely

Toms' big night came...And although a bit shy...he managed his investure with pride.. We have to practice that Scout salute!

Busy afternoon in Tom's class this week bagging up more playdough for the Fair this weekend.

Mrs Osborne (Tom's teacher) asked if I'd be able to go on class excursion on Wed as they need another helper...should be fun. Heading to Hobart to a special TSO concert at the Federation Concert Hall then lunch at the Botanical Gardens..

Tom on the bus to Hobart

Tom and class-mates waiting for Concert to begin

Melvin Tix and the TSO

The excursion day was a fine sunny one...the concert went well with Melvin Tix a Norwegian clown conductor taking the children through the different instruments and having fun...generally well received by the children..but it went on a bit too long..1 hour was too much to ask of the littlies there.

Bit chaotic finding our bus afterwards as there were many busloads of children arriving for the afternoon performance...(glad it wasn't raining)

Had about a 40 mins at the Botanical gardens to have lunch and toilet all the children before the journey home..a big day (I take my hat off to Teachers everywhere!!! an exhausting day)

John had a meeting up on our land with Ryan and a bloke from Tas Water to discuss where and how to plan our new dams....Very exciting...We hope to deal with the tunnel erosion that has occurred and excavate dams in this area..should really improve the property...

We had to go in to Hobart that evening to Officeworks as our fax toner was empty ...so combined it with dinner at the Raincheck lounge in North Hobart (one of our favourite places in town)..Yummy food as always

Chilli Beef and garnish

Salad, crushed garlic chats, falafel in mint yoghurt

The boys checking out the chocolate shop

Tom has madehimself a cosy cubby up in the attic...bit warm at times though!!

Thursday was a lovely Spring day and the town trees smiled

St James fair is on Saturday so I have been baking jam drop biscuits, Mars bar slice and chocolate crackles

Beautiful moon on Thurs night

The builders have been making the formwork for our deck slab and floating steps. Its been a bit tricky and there ahs been alot of talk about the challenges of interpreting an architects 'big ideas'...but it is really coming together and we all agree will look very elegant.

John made good use of the lab on Friday making Sphagnis

We had a lovely Friday evening drive exploring Abels Bay, Egg and Bacon Bay and Randalls Bay ..on our way around the coast to Peppermint Bay for dinner .

Strange wildlife seen on our drive

Exploring

Saturday morning brought cloudy conditions... The fair began well but unfortunately the rain came ...causing some dismay as alot of stalls were not under cover...still everyone managed to make for cover and set up again..

Tom had a great time roaming about and spending his monsy on all sorts of goodies.

John and I enjoyed a vege curry and bought some plants and a couple of books...as well as