Big Boys and Their Toys

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you would know that since we've been living here, that we try to get outdoors as much as we can, to enjoy and appreciate all the beauty that is our Pilbara surroundings. And my husband bought himself a new toy, the bumpy car so that it was possible for us to venture out of town on the red dirt roads around us.

Before we moved to these parts, let me tell you, that in no way was I an outdoorsy, camping, 4WD kind of girl. And I'm still not. But I do try to make an effort. And at least look like I'm enjoying myself while paddling in red water, sweating up a storm, swatting too many flies away from my face, and getting red dirt between my toes, and who knows where else.

But then sometimes, it's just all too much. Too friggin' hot. Way too many flies hanging around. The water is as warm as a bath to swim in. The red sand is so hot it almost burns your feet. And your drink turns warm almost as soon as you've grasped it in your hand.

There was absolutely nothing refreshing about today's drive down the river. Zero. Zip. The girls and I asked to go to the town pool for a swim (the blue rock pool as called by my daughter). But my husband suggested we go here. Really not the same kind of thing. Not a cool, clear, blue water pool in sight.

The worst possible day for a drive in the bumpy car. A hot 42 degrees, and in the middle of the day too. But he just had to take the bumpy car out and explore a little. Maybe I could attribute that to his morning spent sitting on the couch watching cricket. Either way, the photo above clearly sums up what the three of us girls all thought about that. Get us into a cool pool or some air conditioned comfort now. Please. 

Which he did, straight after this photo. Well, that is after taking 15 minutes to fold down the canopy and then eventually having to remove the nuisance rod that wouldn't collapse down. Finally giving up, and jamming it into the car, with a third of the pole hanging out of the window so that we could leave already.

Boys and their toys!

Jumping in Muddy Puddles

This week has brought with it, our first cyclone warning, tropical cyclone Christine. Something to bring in the New Year with. While not in the direct path of the cyclone, we had all the accompanying wind and rain that went with it.

Mother nature can be an exhilarating thing in these parts. While we are extremely grateful that nobody was injured, and no property was damaged, we are also extremely excited for other things. The chance to jump in muddy puddles (yes, just like Peppa Pig). To wear our rain coats. Our gumboots (Miss A's feet seem to have grown again, time to go shopping). And to do a little rain dance. All a novelty to us now.

Hope you enjoyed a relaxing first day of 2014!

A New Year { And a Cyclone }

2013.

It has passed by before we even realised it. It's true what they say. The older you get, the faster the years pass. And scarily, I don't feel any different then I did ten years ago. Maybe, just a little more sleep deprived. Our girls, growing up so quickly, are the yardstick to which we measure how quickly time has passed for us.

In the space of a year we have moved twice. First from a rental, into our own home (with a two month baby in tow), and then again, from our own home to a company house in the Pilbara. It has been a year of surprises. And it has kind of been exhausting.

Two young children, taking up so many of our minutes in the day. And night. Trying to find time for ourselves. For each other. Looking back now, I can see that day to day life is so much easier now then it was at the start of the year. Even if it doesn't feel like it at times.

So many glimpses of joy throughout our day, as the girls slowly start interacting more and more with each other as sisters. Laughing with one another, at each other, playing together, sharing (ok, only occasionally with that side of things). A real closeness is starting to grow between them both.

Before their arrival, New Years would have been spent at the usual type of place. Somebody's backyard, house or night club/pub. Mostly lacklustre. And if I think about it, completely unmemorable. The reality for us this year. We'll be doing absolutely nothing, aside from storm watching. We have a cyclone in the area. Cyclone Christina. The tail end of which is expected to reach us on New Years Eve. One of the quietest new years eves I've ever celebrated, but one that I doubt I will forget.

It's going to be a windy and rainy afternoon and night, at the least. The backyard has been packed up. Everything brought under cover. Tied down. Shade sails taken down. It's our first experience with cyclones, so I'm a little unsure of what to expect. Maybe we're all preparing for something that might have lost most of it's steam by the time it reaches us. But it's better to be cautious right? The full to the brim shopping trolleys at the supermarket today, tell me that that's the case. Locals here know, that a flood on any major road, can potentially cut off any supplies into town, for days at a time.

Motherhood and maturity, makes me entirely comfortable with a new years eve, consisting of the usual bedtime routine with the girls, a quiet glass of wine and a storm. That's all I'll need to see in 2014.

Happy New Years to you. And if you're in my part of the world, I hope you've battened down your hatches and are staying safe x


Linking in with the lovely Zanni from My Little Sunshine House, for her Sunshine Sunday Series.

Sunshine and Quiet

Well, this was no mummy vacation like I've talked about previously, but it felt just as good, even if it was only for a few hours.

I've been lacking a little bit of me time of late. Patience levels were slipping. I was tired of the mundane day to day. The cleaning, the craft activities, the playing, the cooking. Everything and everyone was just annoying me a little more than they should.

With my husband home on holidays I made my escape. An afternoon at the pool, all on my lonesome. Divine. Just me, my beach towel, the sun, the pool and a good magazine. It's been a while since I've enjoyed a peaceful, slow swim on my own. No children, no pool noodles, no floaties. In fact no flotation devices at all. I'd almost forgotten what it felt like.

The only thing I was missing. A colourful drink with an umbrella in it. Maybe next time! Hope you're managing to squeeze in a little rest and relaxation before the start of the new year x

Merry Christmas

Well, Christmas day is almost upon us. Funny how it takes so long to actually get to this day. Yet creeps up on you all of a sudden also. Two batches of rumballs made and eaten (considering on whether to make a third), shortbread and Christmas truffles made, also all eaten. Funny how little nibbles such as these, slowly disappear in the lead up to Christmas Day. Though nobody seems to have eaten them. We must have a Christmas mouse in our house.

 

 

The Kailis bro's fish truck on it's last stop in town before Christmas. Fresh fish and seafood delivered to us. Four and a half hours away from the coast. The prawns were popular today. But I just can't do kilos of prawns in one sitting.

 

 

Our choice today, blue emperor fillets, to be served with some steamed greens. Something light in between a champagne breakfast at a friends house, and a traditional Christmas dinner at anothers later in the day. My share of the Christmas cooking this year is light. A fruit salad to add to the table at breakfast, and a tray of roast vegetables for dinner. I think I can manage that.

I haven't spent many Christmas's away from my extended family interstate. As family members grow older, it is always a sobering thought. A reminder to cherish our time and memories, with those who are nearest and dearest to us. Life passes by too quickly. Even myself, in my early 30's, feel a great sadness when I remember the loved ones who are not with us at times like these. I often wonder, how my Grandparents feel on family occasions such as these. So many important people in their lives, passed on, but still deeply remembered. Sometimes, characters, are too big to forget, the love too strong, for things to ever feel the same way without their presence.

Which is why little faces like these, bring so much joy, hope and meaning to Christmas.

 

Little Miss J, too busy in her own imagination to be able to look at the camera for photos anymore.

 

Wishing you all the merriest of Christmas's. May you be surrounded by loved ones and happiness. And for those that will celebrate Christmas on their own this year, I send to you my warmest biggest hug also.

Thankyou, for all your lovely comments in the past five months. I appreciate every single one of them and am truly grateful for all your support and interest in my space on the internet world xx

 

 



A Drive Down the Fortescue River { The Wrong Way }

Our bumpy car has been on a hiatus. Too hot to be taken out on the road for any type of adventure, it has languished in the drive. Taken out only for the occasional small trip around town. Not quite what it is meant for.

A spontaneous call over the weekend, ended all that. And took us on a drive in the wrong direction (further away from civilisation than we intended) down the Fortescue River.

A mostly dry and sandy riverbed made for surprising fun. We took the mountainous way to reach the river, which was typically scenic and stunning. A reminder that despite the mundane of town, that we are lucky to be surrounded by such beautiful scenery. And to also have this opportunity to live here, and be able to enjoy and do things that we would never have experienced otherwise. This, is partly what we moved here for. An adventure. Albeit a red one.

 

 

A love heart in the sky! ( Please excuse the dirty windscreen! )

 

 

The wet season has arrived here, and while nowhere near enough rain to fill the river, small waterholes have formed in and along the riverbeds. A perfect spot to enjoy the peace, rest and wet the feet. Or if you're young enough to still get away with running around nudie rudie style, then you can cool yourself off completely.

Driving onto the riverbed.

 

 

 

The smiley faced man who may, or may not have wanted to go left.

 

 

 

Without a road sign in sight, and the evening approaching faster than we realised, it was time to make a decision. Do we go left or do we go right down the river, back to the Great Northern Highway and home. We took the left, a scenic drive yes, but the wrong choice. One which we realised after a good while. A U-turn. And then a faster drive home than the one we made to arrive at our afternoon waterhole. It all left the car a little quiet. It was a rather fast and bumpy drive. Nobody wants to 4WD in the dark. Or get bogged.

 

 

 

Funny how a toddler can pick up on everything left unsaid. The mood of the car told her that we were lost. And she was a little concerned. No we weren't lost at all. We just took the long way home was all.

That we did.

Dear Santa, Please Stop Here

Dear Santa,

please stop here.

We've filled our house

with Christmas Cheer.

It's crazy, the amount of Christmas excitement  in our house this year. It is the first year my eldest, truly understands the concept of Santa, and all that he brings. The joy, the "ho,ho,ho's", the bushy white beard, the presents. Telling any Santa that she sees, whether he be porcelain, blown up or sitting in a snow globe, her Christmas list. "Tutu for me, dog bone for Toby, white lap top for Mum, chocolate for Dad and toys for baby J".

It has really added an extra sparkle to our Christmas preperations this year. A desire to create our own Christmas traditions, and fun. To add festivity to all parts of our home.

Young children, truly do add meaning and excitement to all things Christmas.  And a desire to put more effort than usual into decorating your house (and cubby house), in readiness for Santa's arrival. So a little taste, from our home, of all that we are beginning to slowly collect, to be enjoyed for hopefully many Christmas's to come.

And while it has in no way hampered the festivities this year, a part of me just can't wait for our "forever" home. To bang nails in walls, doors and fireplaces, wherever I please, for all those wreathes and stockings, that are sadly having to languish in their storage boxes this year. Oh, and maybe one of those bushy, no doubt expensive, Christmas trees would be nice too. One year soon I'm sure!