Highlights of past two weeks...

Sunday and the weather looks to be on the improve...the sun is lovely even if there is a chill in the air.
We head out after breakie in search of Prunus.. Ros, who was in during the week, told us that we would find Prunus at Pontville..on the side of the road near the old country homes.
We see lots of beautiful Crataegus hedges..

Sure enough, we found the bushes with a few berries (sloe). Its not quite the same as the one we had in Sydney at Windyhaugh...but has the properties we need..so we note it on our Harvest map.

Then we drive back to Hobart to the Botanical Gardens where the boys explore and research and harvest Chestnuts and acorns from the Oak trees.. I enjoy a sit in the sun as a head cold is making me feel a little under the weather...

After a wander about we end up at the cafe for a cuppa with raisin toast and berry pancakes to share...yummy.

To Salamanca to have a quick look through Hobart Books !! while I visit the wool shop. Back through Kingston to Big W to pick up a red T-shirt for Tom to wear to school on Friday... (His House  "Lourdes" is the colour red...and they have a fundraising day ). Amazingly I found a red T-shirt with
R2-D2 on it...a big hit!!
Home for a snooze and a potter...Tom look at his haul of seeds and pine cones...

We decide to go up on the hill. John and Tom spread about seeds in various spots while I enjoy the view from the warmth of the car...

The boys report that there are swans on our dam so we drive down for a closer look after Tom has had a play about..

A cosy evening spent at home.

Monday and its a coolish day today. I bake a bread, do some washing etc.
Its a Pupil Free Day for Tom. We have alot of orders that keep us busy throughout the morning.
Tom gets his homework done while we work... then on to drawing and some Harry Potter..a scooter ride some tree climbing...a good day.

Tuesday  and we have a busy work day.
Sport day for Tom then after school ball games...which he loves.
Ryan and Arlo arrive a bit after 4pm..
Tom and Arlo have a lovely play while we have a look at the latest modifications to our house plan.
A nice afternoon.
I head to Sydney from Wed to Sat to see family and friends...
Had a wonderful visit...good for the soul..
Saturday evening and the boys are there to meet me at Hobart ...got the BIGGEST hug from Thomas...delightful to see them both and to be back home in beautiful Tassie.
Sunday and after a lovely walk there is washing to do before opening the shop for Market day.
On my walk I spy the shop over the road full of vintage goods ...opening today...interesting..

 John goes off to Kingston for the morning to an Anthroposophical group session.

 Tom and I do a flit around the market to pick up some veges and books etc..

We spend the morning playing Tom's lego Harry Potter game and serving customers...nice .
John arrives home after lunch . I take my chair out the back to enjoy a cuppa in the lovely day..

 I have a snooze as suddenly feeling very tired. We enjoy a quiet afternoon...and notice the evening closing in now we are back on Eastern Standard time.

Monday and its quite cool out today...could have used a beanie!!

I finished off the beanie that I was knitting while in Sydney..

The day warms up and we are kept very busy with orders all morning.
We meet a young couple Erin and Justin who are setting up in a room at Cobweb Gallery to practise Naturopathy and Remedial Massage..They are very keen to build up their practise and were very pleased to see what we are doing.
John shouted me a wonderful curry from Lotus eaters...he had a Panini...yummy!!
Spent the afternoon labelling Stannum cream that John had made while I was away.
Tom got stuck into his homework as soon as he got home...terrific to see.
He was very keen to get to scouts as usual.
It was dark by the time he came home at 6.30pm...John and i walked down to get him...its still quite mild with a pleasant breeze blowing..
Enjoyed Spinach and Cheese filo pastries for dinner...Spinach from Alex's garden.

Tuesday ..with a lovely start then the clouds roll in...not too cool but it doesn't warm up too much.

Mark arrives to finish off repairs to doors etc...but doesn't have everything he needs so goes again.
Tom is happy to go off today after he and I do a little dance practise.. (he is preparing for the May Ball...a big event at St James. The whole school is involved and it is a formal affair with all dressing in formal gear to do set dances..Tom said he is finding the waltz a bit hard!! lol) Can't wait for that night.
We are busy with orders most of the morning.
The afternoon passes with a few customers dropping in..
Tom arrives home after ball games..
We make a batch of Hot Cross Buns...they aren't too bad either!!

Wednesday and another lovely sunrise.

 

 I head over to Kitchen class for the morning. We have a busy time making a rocket and bean salad, couscous salad with silverbeet, zucchini slice and apple strudel. My group manage really well with the rocket salad...lots to chop and dressing to make..

Tom is busy with his group setting tables today. Its nice to work with a different group of children.

Another mum, Nell, is there today. Her son Jack is a delightful boy...we have quite  nice chat after class.

Mark has arrived to fix the doors in the flat when I get back to shop.

I dash over to the drill hall to see the Easter Bonnet Parade...quite a sight...and I forgot my camera in the rush!!

Caught up with Sharon Ireland, who I worked with last year in Mrs Osborne's class. She invited me to join with a group who have coffee every Wed arvo at the Red Velvet...pleased about that.

Got on with orders and jobs during the afternoon. Was nice to catch up with what Mark has been doing buildingwise ..

After post run, went to Red Velvet and thoroughly enjoyed afternoon tea with a group of lovely women..look forward to that weekly event...just what I need.

Decided to have dinner from Devour tonight. John and I enjoyed their yummy hamburgers while Tom settled for chips (and a tin of Sweet Chillli Tuna on the side)

While waiting for order, Dani(one of the owners) asked me if I'd like to join her book club ..meeting at her place once a month... Sounds like fun...another great opportunity to meet some new people.

Thursday and another colourful start to the day.

We start the day filling and sealing the Hypericum/Calendula cream that John made yesterday.

Then get on with some orders.

Melanie Creedy , a Homoeopath from Hobart dropped in to say hi...we showed her our madicine range. Was nice to meet her finally as we have exchanged emails...

Sadie dropped in a box of cook books signed by Matthew for us to sell in the shop.. Had a nice chat with her about various things too.

John spends alot of the day researching plants and plant seeds to build up our own garden of medicinal plants.

We have a number of customers through today , selling a few books.

There is great commotion halfway through the day with 2 ambulances and a fire engine racing through town...followed by a helicopter landing up near the Public school. I eventually find out via Graeme the butchet that there was a motor bike/car collision up on Toby's Hill Rd behind us. An unlicensed bike rider and his passenger were injured...quite severely...not a good scenario.

I do a walk to the post about lunchtime to get out in to the warm day.. Lisa gives me a box of her homegrown tomatoes...yummy. John and I have Bruschetta for lunch.

Tom arrives home with a big grin. His bookclub order has arrived with lots of goodies.

He has a long play across the road with Brody after school..

We will back up this evening for our trip to Bendigo...looking forward to that...