Thursday, April 2, 2015

Getting there



We limped our way to the end of Term 1 and I think we are all looking forward to a couple of weeks break from the school routine. We experienced the modern day version of "the dog ate my homework" the other day, otherwise known as "Mum put my USB through the wash". It's a sign of tiredness if ever there was one. Just so you know, putting a USB through the wash on a 30 minute cycle and cold wash only does not harm the information stored on it. Who knew?

I'm loving the change of seasons and especially my favourite season of Autumn - the season of pink sunrises, golden light and in just a few days the hope that the kids will finally stop waking us up before 7 when the clocks go forward an hour.

As I sit here with a glass of red on my left and a guilty Whippet on my right (don't ask!) I'm quite glad there are some photographic evidence of the blur that has been these past few weeks. It's been a blur of markets, Easter chocolate frenzy, Athletics carnivals (x3) and end of term tiredness. There has also been a lot of progress on the outside around the farm. Inside the home there appears to have been quite a bit of knitting going on in the evenings but not much else on my behalf quite frankly.

The walls of the building aren't up yet but there has been an enormous amount of ground work done on the building site in terms of retaining walls, drainage, and under-slab plumbing. Weather permitting, the slab will be poured next week. It's all starting to feel very real now. We're now getting down to the smaller details like staff uniforms, cafe furniture and menu planning.

We've had an amazing season with our Strawberries, selling out at the markets within the first hour or 2 and we're looking forward to our first raspberry harvest next Summer. The boys have been working hard planting out the Vineyard. The Chardonnay grapes are almost all in and the Pinot grapes will be planted in October, a Coal River Farm Pinot Noir and crisp Sparkling are just a few short years away.

Thanks to your comments a few posts ago in relation to that list, I promptly went out the next day and bought myself 5 skeins of yarn and cast on my very first jumper. I've been spending evenings bingeing on Seasons 1 and 2 of House of Cards with the body of the jumper and 1 sleeve now finished. Are you a fan of the series? My Dad said I must watch it and I am a huge fan of political dramas like The West Wing so House of Cards was completely up my alley. The cast is phenomenal. If only Season 3 was available already to get me through the second sleeve as it appears I suffer from the "Second Sleeve Syndrome" and haven't been inspired to tackle the second sleeve yet. Any suggestions for a new series? The only other thing on the list that I'm doing is reading the 3 middle boys Harry Potter and we are having a lovely time doing that before bed each night. One chapter a night seems to be just right before they get restless or I start nodding off myself.

Also pictured above are my first ever pair of socks that I started 8 months ago but never got further after finishing the first sock.  It appears I also suffer from the "second sock syndrome".  You may recall I started these after being inspired by Marta in The Sound of Music when she says "My name is Marta and I'm going to be 7 on Tuesday and I'd like a pink pair of socks". Except, when someone commented on that post that they didn't remember that bit of the movie I looked into it and it appears I've mistaken these words for 30 years. It seems Marta didn't want a pair of pink socks after all. She wanted a pink parasol. What 7 year old wants a pink parasol I'd like to know.

I also finished off Flynn's 2nd birthday present (just 4 months late), the super cute Mochi Trout Fish. This brings my total unfinished projects to just 3, including the jumper which I hope to finish off over Easter.

On that note, I wish you all a wonderful Easter and apologise profusely for neglecting all of your blogs these past couple of weeks. I'm on holidays now and looking forward to a bit more leisure time. I might even move the yarn winder from the entryway :-)

Joining in with other readers and knitters here.

Mel x


22 comments :

  1. If I could learn to knit, the first thing I would knit is a pair of socks. My Nana (from Tassie) used to knit us a pair of socks every winter and they were the warmest socks ever. We literally wore them until they had holes in them. Yours look super warm and cosy.

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  2. I agree...when I conquer knitting socks are the top of the list ( after some practice)! I am glad to hear that madness does not just happen in my house. Enjoy the break :)

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  3. Your are such a busy bee Mel! I have promptly added your jumper to my Ravelry queue, it is perfect. I am afraid I have not TV suggestions but I could suggest a few good audiobooks which are great for knitting, too. Your socks are the most beautiful pink ever and I absolutely adore the photos with the little man climbing the mountains of dug-out dirt. Did you know know that iPhones are washable, too? Happy Easter to all of you! xx

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  4. You are really Yarning Along! Those socks are beautiful, as is the colour of that little jumper. I'm starting on my first ever socks this week— Hermione's Everyday Pattern— and... I'm looking at it, and starting to panic a bit.

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  5. Such beautiful photos Mel. Your property is changing every time we see it. It must be so exciting to see it all progress. Can't wait to see the next ones when the building is finished. Love your socks and you definitely have been busy with your knitting. Enjoy your school holiday break and Autumn. cheers Wendy

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  6. You have been busy, it's all most impressive. The last photo is gorgeous, all so beautifully neat and organised. Well done on the jumper, I have yarn, I just need to start the knitting part now... CJ xx

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  7. Oh my word, that view is amazing! Loving the socks!

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  8. Major groundworks! How thrilling to watch it all develop but I guess a mixture of excitement and trepidation as you get down to the fine details.

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  9. Hey Mel,
    Busy, exciting and tiring by the look and sound of it. And oh that first picture! What a truly magnificent view. I can barely summon the energy to put my pjs on after Olly is tucked into bed. You must be superwoman!!
    Have a wonderful Easter and holiday with you and yours.
    Leanne xx

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  10. Your view is so beautiful. I really love those pink socks, very cool. I hope your break is very relaxing and refreshing. I know exactly what you mean about limping toward it; I was doing the same last week and I pretty much collapsed at the earliest possible opportunity. Happy Easter to all of you. :)

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  11. Good luck with everything!! Happy Easter! xx

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  12. I can remember the first time you mentioned your plans in an email to me, and look at it all now!

    It will be months before we have fresh strawberries, raspberries, and such again here and my mouth is watering at the thought of your all your fruit ... tis a wonderful thing you guys are building :)

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  13. I've been crocheting a cashmere cardigan and gave just started House of Cards. I so need to sort myself out, knitting-wise. I wish I wasn't so afraid of it!

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  14. yay! looking great! and i really REALLY want some pink socks now. :)

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  15. What a stunning pink sunset you've captured there.
    I can imagine those strawberries of yours selling out. Berries always seemed popular at the markets were at.
    I hope your Easter is lovely. x

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  16. Wow - that is the view from your dining room?! Not a vacation house? Fantastic. You guys sure do things BIG down there. Though the little fish is very cute!

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  17. That view is amazing, I would never get tired of looking at it! Love the socks and the jumper. If I could get as far as finishing one sock, I'm sure I would have second sock syndrome too :-) xx

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  18. Happy Easter to you too:) xx
    and oh my just love your view in the first pic!! Relax and enjoy the hols

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  19. Happy Easter Mel! I like the look of those socks!

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  20. Hope you have had a relaxing Easter after a hectic few weeks. Flynn and the dog look as if they are enjoying exploring the building site! Love your beautiful sunrises! Sarah x

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  21. I looove that fish! Hope you had a restful Easter... can't even begin to imagine how hectic your life must be at the moment. x

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  22. That first shot is spectacular Mel, Wowzers! Just catching up on a bit of reading through my fave blogs. Loving all of your pics here, as always. The knitted trout is fab :) Congratulations on the first stages of your big build, exciting! Jules xo

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