'Mixed bag' of happenings..

So...we begin with a little plumbing work..

Our hot water supply had been slowly conking out again...and having rung the plumber a second time with a less than enthusiastic  response to my request..I decided to inspect the Hot Water heater again..

This is how it should look...

But I found the air intake in the three rings were clogged up with about 2cm thick ice!!

Hmm...no wonder it was struggling..

Well it has been a very cold winter here..

So up I went with the hose and spent a good hour or so slowly melting and removing huge chunks of ice... and after turning the system on again and waiting a good few hours...eureka...piping hot water.

Thomas has had a long week of illness ..poor darling.. everything from headache , congestion to conjunctivitis to ear infection...and a resounding cough...

John and I were getting rather concerned about his fitness to travel to Sydney for our last Opera of the year..but we took it slowly and he managed ok..

The worst drama was on the plane as we began the descent into Sydney... Tom's ear pain was extreme and he sobbed and sobbed..

John tried distracting him and got him to take some photos as we came over the city...

We were all very glad to land... 

 Saturday morning we had a slow start..with breakie at our hotel..

Lucy and Paul came into town so Lucy could have a dress fitting...With great relief.. the dress fitted and looked lovely.. I took a few photos...but this is all you will see until 25th..

I think the bride is happy..

Meanwhile...I've started making Crochet bunting for the Cygnet CWA who plan to Yarn bomb the town for the Folk Festival in January...having lots of fun..

 We headed into town to do a bit of shopping..Tom not 100%...but the lure of Dymocks and Lego shops kept him going..

We spent the afternoon in our room...reading, sleeping and lego-ing..

Then got ready for "Marriage of Figaro"

That's my gorgeous man-child..

I tried to do a selfie..rather unsuccessfully ...then the woman behind us offered to take a photo...nice

The Opera was wonderful...and Tom managed pretty well..apart from a few coughing fits..

Sunday..another slow start..

I sent this one of the boys at breakie to Jess..

And she sent this one back of Ben at breakie...gorgeous

We hired a car and went over to Rozelle Markets for a wander.. Tom was rather taken by these witches hats...

Tom soon tired ..so we sat for a while..then ...bummer...we got at text from Jetstar to say our flight was delayed 4 hours...What to do with a tire boy...
Thankfully John had the brainwave of going to the movies ...so we headed to Leichhardt and saw  "Mr Holmes"....an excellent film..
Late lunch then meander to the airport in time to get out late flight home with no dramas..
We all collapsed into bed that night.
The week has passed quickly.
Tom was keen to be back at school and even more keen to build lego when he got home..

Not much has happened on the hill this week...everything is still so wet and muddy ...we have to wait for the ground to dry out a bit.

John has been going up every afternoon to do more shelving in the library.

Ned has completed out Huon Pine table and stools (similar to the one in the shop) and he and John dropped it up there on Wednesday...I haven't seen it yet.

I had a lovely couple of hours at the Garden yesterday..
Didn't stay for lunch as there was much to do at work..

Di harvesting mushrooms..

A bit wet..

 Planting out Kale

 Moving the chooks

 Pretty...

Some fabulous favourites of my darling boys...Jacob looks so calm!

Seeing the light ...

Well, I have finally reached the last stages of THE DRESS..
Ready to take up to Sydney to have the final fitting and make last adjustments ..
Unfortunately the lovely photos I took will remain under wraps until Sept 25th!!
Hope the Bride is happy...(fingers crossed)

 I'm smiling as I'm finally feeling well again and can see the dress coming together...

The sun shines in Cygnet on and off...but there is not much warmth yet (unless you are behind glass)

We all go up to check on house progress. The fires have been installed...you can see the flues coming out of the chimneys now

 John is in his element as his IKEA shelving has been delivered...slowly the Library room will take shape.

 Poor Tom is not feeling too good this week...
Has Monday/Tuesday off school with a nasty headache/ fever...then starts to come down with a heavy cold towards end of the week..

 He heads off to Scout Snow Camp on Friday night ..
Going to Mt Field ..he has been looking forward to it for so long...John and I have our concerns about letting him go...but Tom insists he will be fine..

On Saturday, John and I go up on the hill . I cage 14 trees that will need protection from possums and wallabies until we finish the perimeter fence..and Spring growth will begin soon..

I go back down and do more sewing while John works in the library.

Sunday we host a book launch for local author Carol Ann Martin.

She has written a children's picture book called "Underneath a Cow".

Ann wrote the Cocky's Circle books for Scholastic Books...I remember these books when the girls were at school.

I spend the morning setting up table/ bunting etc..

John goes up to do a bit more in the library during the morning.

Ann has arranged for her husband Paul (clarinet) and mates Malcolm(trumpet)  and Brad (guitar)to come and play some children's music. 

Lovely Suzy Manigian brings along her gorgeous teacups and teapots and does a grand job of keeping tea going all afternoon.

I have set up a colouring table with pencils and crayons..and Ann brings some sketches form the book for colouring in.

Ann's friends Anne and Sarah lead the children through a treasure hunt...including ending up under a "cow" table... then read the book to the children   Lots of fun.

 Ann gives a short speech...

We donate the proceed of book sales to Ann who is an active campaigner for the rights of children.

She intends to donate to an organisation that supports the release children in detention and also another organisation that supports indigenous children's education.

I figure out a great way to measure out all the tulle for THE VEIL...

And last but never least...my darling boys...growing up fast..roll on Sept...can't wait to see them again