Nest in the Vines:: Slump.

 

I’m struggling to get any balance at the moment. My Dad and my brother are slaving it out over at the block, trying to finish the shed.  I’m feeling awkward and guilt ridden towards them because the shed money’s almost run out. They are working for nothing now. I’m trying to get over there and do what I can do everyday, which doesn’t feel like enough but I’m there for hours at a time. Lewi’s  struggling to get the time and attention he needs from me at the moment. He’s aching to have more time with friends but I’m flat out trying to get everything done each day. He’s not loving the block, not one bit. There are no storage sheds left in town to rent. Not sure where we’ll put our stuff when we finally do have a move out date. Plus, to top it all off we’ve both still got colds on top of the tail of whooping cough.

So much to do. Not enough time or money to do it.

Agh! I’ve definitely hit a slump.

What a whinge, huh!

I better stop before the violins start up…

 

Kim xx

Lewi to the Rescue!

 

On our way to the block lately we have been finding turtles on the road. Alive, thankfully. We pull over to the side of the road and Lewi carefully takes them off and over to a safer little haven, closer to the river.

 

And from these moments I have learnt how very disgusting the smell of scared turtle is. Oh man!! It’s one of the most putrid smells I’ve ever smelt. Urgh! Lew doesn’t even bat an eye lid, though. He matter of factly explains what the filthy smell is and why the turtle makes it and then carefully examines them to make sure it’s all intact and healthy before gently releasing it onto safer terrain.

 

 

Lew has also been rescuing tadpoles this week from puddles around our shed. There were tadpoles galore in these slowly drying up muddy puddles. Some didn’t make it but many got to live in a much better place down at the river.

 

Lewi the rescuer!

 

Kim xx

The Learning is Everywhere :: Especially Along A Country Lane

 

Last week we went on a bird watching drive to a known bird route not too far from where we live. We took a notebook and pencil, a bird identification book and some nibblies. We expected to see lots of birds.

And we did.

The final stop was here, at this little creek.

 

The creek happened to be right near a dairy farm. As we got back into the car to head for home I noticed a cow, in the distance, that looked a little weird. It looked to have something sticking out of it’s back end…though Lew couldn’t see anything unusual.

I had a feeling that the cow was about to give birth. So we waited.

And sure enough, after only a few minutes, she plonked herself on the ground.

 

 

We were in for an amazing 30 minutes.

While we waited for a little jersey calf to be born, we nibbled for sustenance…as you do.

 

 

And we watched as eagles soared overhead.

 

 

And then it happened.

A black and white calf was born.

 

The mother licked and licked and licked. We waited and waited and waited for the calf to stand up so we could get a better glimpse.

 

 

But it was getting a little hot in the car and the calf was certainly taking her {I hope!!} time. So we decided to leave the two in peace.

 

This was the best of a bad bunch of iphone shots.

These are the days when I really wish I had popped my good camera into my basket.

So much to talk about in the car while we were viewing this birth. The shock of a black and white lump falling to the ground instead of a caramel one that we were expecting. Chats about dairy farms and milk quotas and lovely jersey mums.

I’m so pleased we were driving along that Lane in the middle of the day, that day.

The learning really is everywhere!

 

Kim x

About Me

Hey! Thanks for popping in.

I'm Kim. I live on the Far South Coast of NSW in a beautiful valley.

I'm a mum, first and foremost. My son, Lewi, unschools {that's a style of homeschooling}. He's never been to school so my main priority for the past 12 years has been parenting and helping Lewi on his learning journey.

What else do I do?

I have a little home making consultancy business called Feather & Nest. I cringe at the interior design title for myself as I don't really fit that description in my own mind. But, I love: Homey things. Feathery and nesty things. Making a house a home. Prettying things up. Using recycled materials and pre-loved treasures to create unique and lovely spaces. It's that sort of business.

So I get a little obsessive about homey stuff. I'm a featherer and nester.

I'm also a christian. I believe in the free and sovereign grace of God. I believe that the Bible is the Word of God. I believe that Amazing Grace is a sweet, sweet sound and it saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I'm found. I was blind but now I see. You know, just like the song.

 

My other love is writing. It's something I have to do. I'm a venter, but on paper. It helps me put my life into perspective and keeps me sane {almost}. I'm not the best writer in the world. I’m really more of a recorder. But I'd like to write more often and do more with my writing...this little blog is helping me fulfill this need.

So, I hope you enjoy reading along about my feathering and nesting, unschooling, parenting, writing, country journey.  Grab a cuppa and stay a while.

Kim x

this weekend.

 

After beginning the weekend with a lovely Friday night dinner at the Racz,

This weekend we:

 

drank hot chocolate while watching Inception,

 

 

hung out with our fave lizard,

 

helped Sarah and Gerard move,

 

 

ripped out pages we liked with Sarah and Marz from Sarah’s magazines,

 

 

checked out an old house,

 

 

 

briefly saw some friends at the block,

 

 

helped some stranded tadpoles survive their first winter,

 

How about you? What did you get up to?

Kim xx

Our Games Days.

 

If our Natural Learners group had to vote for their most favourite get together I’m pretty sure that our Games Days would be up there in number 1 place. It’s such fun.

The thing I love most about Games Days is that parents and kids all get in together, running around and chasing and playing games. It’s so lovely to play together like this. To be on the level with our kids. It’s proper, old fashioned fun, the sort of fun my own childhood memories were made of. It  bonds us as a group as well. When you’re chasing someone or running from them you really get to know them on another level. Try it and see. There’s a lot of laughing and falling over and the occasional scream as mothers are chased and tagged by their kids in Fruit Tips. {I have to say that I’m yet to hear the dad’s scream} Fun. Fun. Fun.

 

 

Poor Melinda ended up with a sprained ankle during a game of dodge ball. Our first real Games Day injury. Heal well, and rest up Melinda. Ouch!

 

Kim xx

Beautiful Businesses

 

These are some of my family and friends who own beautiful businesses. Please check them out by clicking on the buttons.

 

I Sometimes Write In Other Places

 

Twelve.

 

I am the mum of a 12 year old. It certainly is a different age.

The signs of puberty are there.  Sitting in the car while I do the grocery shopping. Wanting to stay home a lot more. A little bit of attitude. A lot of XBox playing. Hair in places. Privacy needs. Embarrassing easily. A little on the negative side. Pimples. No more imaginary games.

I’ve got to get with the program. That’s for sure.

I’m reading How To Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will Talk. I thought I’d have a whole other year to get my head around all of this but it’s come a little earlier than expected.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful age. The help I now get from this boy is so very much appreciated. Whenever I ask him to help me he mostly answers with a: “Sure, Mum.” He’s fun and funny and expressive. I love our chats. He loves gossip. Is this because he’s spent so much of his time with a female? But I’m so pleased that he loves to talk and share and discuss. He’s passionate about his interests and talks a lot more about the future and what he’d like to do for a job. He’s becoming less fearful about things that scared him when he was younger {being alone and the dark}. He’s become much more selective, socially, but still enjoys hanging out with younger kids, especially his cousins. His feet are already bigger than mine and it won’t be long {about 4cms to go} before he’s taller than me. His hands are gentle and strong and so remind me of my Dad. His pinky toes are just like my brother Josh’s. He laughs just like Josh as well. If Lew’s in another room laughing I have to stop and think. I could swear that Josh was in there. He’s still an animal fanatic. He still draws.

But it’s definitely a different age.

I embrace the teen that he is becoming and I hope I can get with the program enough, and quickly, to remain empathetic and understanding and remember what it was like when I was 12 years old.

Love you, Lew xxxxxxx

Kim xx

Yesterday…

 

Yesterday consisted of:

Painting at the block, up some rally high trestles. A drive and some lunch in the car. Swimming lessons with Ov. Play with cousins and two bunnies. Organising some lining for the shed. Tom cutting his leg to the bone on some colorbond. Dinner at the block with our lovely friends and neighbours. Running around play outside in the fresh stinky country air. {There’s a smell out there at the moment that is indescribable!} A wine as the sun went down, to end the day.

That was yesterday.

 

Kim xx

Tea & Toast :: Pallet Houses

 

 

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For Mer & Myoung xx

 

This Tea & Toast is a little bit different. It’s not all flowers and prettiness and decorating style. But it is creative and nifty and something that is definitely worth taking a look at. I know it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but I think it’s Tea & Toast, worthy for sure!

 

I’ve been pondering the humble packing pallet for some time now. They seem to be everywhere – stacked up, unused, pretty colours, wasting away. The wood, on some of them, is good hardwood. It’s sturdy and useful. And it’s cheap, cheap, cheap! Surely there’s got to be more we can do with these timber creations than leave them in a pile to rot in the weather?

I know you’ve seen up cycled packing pallet furniture and shelving and tables and things but have you ever seen packing pallet houses? I did some oogly googling and I can say, I kid you not.

Come with me for a wander through these packing pallet houses. Be prepared to be amazed!

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So what did you think? Could you live in a packing pallet house?

Happy Tuesday!

 

Kim xx