37 Black Swans: Term 2 ends

Winter weeks pass quickly..

Hannah is visiting in Moree and sends some delightful photos of darling Benjamin (and his mum and dad). They make me smile and smile..

I make a card for Lucy and Paul to congratulate them on their home purchase...VERY EXCITING.

Down to last 2 weeks of term 2..
Thomas is taking part in his first school band performance at Sacred Heart Geeveston on Friday.

He has been rehearsing and enjoying the experience.

Tom and I continue with our Clarinet and recorder sessions before school.

Good to feel like we are making some headway now...actually playing music now!! We both enjoy these sessions very much. This morning when we finished a recorder session, Tom went on to play on the Treble recorder, then his whistle, then his fife...so delightful to hear him..

We are making some headway with work on the hill.

A large site has been cleared for our gigantic water tank to be installed..(I've never known John to do things by halves!!)

Pipes are being laid from tank site to dam and through garden areas..

Gravel is being laid on house site. A Container will arrive to house batteries/ generator and tools for the build.

Tom's cubby site is being extended and leveled so we can get a slab down and start work on that too.

We go up to take a look on Friday afternoon after work...and John and Tom give Lochie a hand with laying the electrical cable pipes..

John helps set up for Saturday's 'Green's' Book Sale on Friday evening

The boys have a busy Saturday...more Book Sale set up first thing then up on the hill and going into Huonville to get hardware..

I have a quiet one at home pottering as I'm not feeling 100%.

Sunday is a very chilly one..
John sneaks into Tom's room to and sets himself up snugly..

... we still manage to go up on the hill (rugged up) and do a bit more planting and fence work.. It really is beautiful up there despite the cold.

Love the Kelly Kettle...whips up boiling water in no time.

Nothing like a hot cuppa to set the world to rights..

We 'circle the wagons' to create a warm space for lunch break

We have a dinner invitation to Hans and Esther's place up on Sunday Hill..just up from our land. We have a lovely evening of delicious food and wonderful company. Hans and Esther have been here 11 years and produce Tongola Goat cheese from their heard of goats. They have using our remedies for various goat ailments with good results.. delightful people.

We are kept busy with orders during the day.

John goes up on the hill to oversee the work that is going on there a couple of times during the week.

We race up after work on Tuesday to take a look at the newly installed Stainless Steel tank..looks impressive. We will pump water up from the dam into this tank for use on the garden.

A very large concrete tank will go in later this week..for water going to the house.

Tom's cubby site is looking pretty grand..very exciting to finally see lots happening on the hill.

We are having some grey and chilly weather..but the morning sunrises are beautiful.

I changed my morning running route today as it is just too dark to see the path in Burtons these mornings when there is no moon to guide me.So instead I go up the Esplanade under street lights..
We have the fires blazing during the day and are thoroughly enjoying our latest CDs.. the Classic FM Top 100 Baroque & Before... also a collection of Toronto Consort CDs that John ordered for me..luscious music as we work.

I enjoy Tuesday Swansong choir... Some of the group will be taking part in Festival of Voice in Hobart on Saturday . (I can't really justify a whole day away when I'm going to be away with Tom the next two weekends). They are doing a pop-up gig at TMAG (Tas Museum Art Gallery) then going to a Community choir sharing workshop and concert. I will take part in the event next Thursday night in the Cygnet Town hall. Swansong are doing a support performance for Spooky Men's Chorale...should be fun.

I have a lovely group of women attend 'In stitches' (fondly called Knitwits by John) on Thursday night.
Lots of delightful knitting and chatting...and a cuppa too.

John and I go up to and see the Concrete tank taking shape..exciting.

Tom has an overnight scout evening on Friday in the hall.. They are doing more 'Boomerang ' badge work and doing a hike in the morning.
John and I get up on the hill after 8am on Saturday and work through until about 1.30/2.

Just time for lunch and a rest before I get Tom.
Tom is very tired and glad to get an early night...as we all are..

Sunday is John's 60th!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN..As he is a low fuss kinda birthday boy...Tom and I have opted for putting together a folder of 60 delights... 60 special photo memories, list of 60 wonderful books John has read to Tom, credit vouchers for 60 coffees, 60 newspapers etc etc..lots of fun. Tom gives him a jar filled with 60 Dad jokes written on coloured paper....and we have managed (thanks to help from Hannah) to get 60 packets of his favourite Manner wafers.. It goes down well..
I do a quick shop at Market and pleased to get a Voodoo Scott Morrison from Clare's stall... (my favourite pincushion)

Our plans to go up on the hill are washed out by heavy rain.
A drive to town to do a bit of research for our house on the hill..is the alternative plan.
The home via Julie's nursery where we pick up a couple more roses..
We also stop to get some Willow cutting...for our boggy areas..