Blog
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This Week in Learning: September 11th, 2015
As I reflect back on this term I’m extremely happy with the progress made; not only in academic skills but lessons learnt about consistently completing tasks. It’s certainly been the best term we’ve experienced this year. One week until the holidays, planning a little something different for the week, perhaps quizzes and competitions; a Spelling & Geography Bee, an essay competition etc. Confident the children will enjoy a fun, competitive approach. Speech Therapy Remember we were given three weeks of homework instead of weekly lessons, well we’re due to go back for a follow up lesson next week and we’ve done one practice session, yikes, not good. Faith Jem made…
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On the Board Walk
Prior to demolishing our old laundry a few weeks ago, PC began laying piers for a new section of verandah. Thus far we’ve laid three sections of our verandah; the end, the front (22m/72ft) and the deck. It was now time to complete the section in front of the ‘old house,’ bringing the total of the front verandah to 40 metres (131ft) in length. Once the laundry was removed PC could then lay the bearers and joists. With the help of visiting friends, the joists were completed in one weekend. The children were so excited to begin the task of laying the decking boards and thus began a…
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Our Lads Make Their Sacraments
Yesterday Jack Jack made his Confirmation and Jem made his First Holy Communion. To receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit is such a blessing and as our Bishop told the children, in the times ahead they will need to be brave. Michelangelo on the right who was fortunate to Serve for this special occasion. Jem was so excited to receive our Blessed Lord for the first time and is keen to receive Him again soon. Our Bishop has now Confirmed seven of our children. Yesterday was the Birthday of Our Blessed Mother, hence blue vestments, not the usual red for Confirmation. Anna Maria is godmother to both the…
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Instagram Tour: Australian Outback and Out West
I’d love you to join me for an instagram tour a follow on from our blog tours, it’s time today to have a visual fest. Whilst I read/follow a variety of blogs and instagrams I’m particularly drawn to some more than others, which I’m certain is the same for most of us, why some blogs and instagram accounts strike a cord more than others I can’t say, but that’s just how it is. Join me today as we visit with Aussie mamas who live in the Australian Outback and Out West. From The Verandah Ainsley at From the Verandah lives in Central Queensland with her husband and six children on their family Station…
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ABC’s of Aboriginal Picture Book Authors
It’s no secret that I’m passionate about books, in particular Australian picture and chapter books. Sharing today an ABC list of Aboriginal Picture Book Authors. Most of the authors are Indigenous, though some aren’t. We are familiar with some of the authors here, enjoying their books in the past. Our personal favourite is Percy Trezise. Most excited that as I gathered names for this list I discovered many new authors for us to learn from:) There are about 500 nations in Australia each have their own stories and customs. Each author’s writing is mostly of her/his own clan, consequently whilst there are several books for some nations, for others there…
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My Daybook: September 3rd, 2015
Outside my window… it’s absolutely freezing, the third day of Spring but a wind is whistling about. This afternoon our crazy boys decided to go for a swim in the pool! It will be a few weeks before I’ll join them I am thankful… that a conversation I was long dreading went exceptionally well. Sometimes I worry, pray and agonise myself in knots about situations and then…all goes smoothly and I resolve to have more Faith and Trust in Him, to leave off worrying. PC however reminds me that all those prayers are the reason all went smoothly, prayers are never wasted. I am thinking… about Harry Potter and underlying…
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This Week in Learning: August 29th, 2015
As the last fortnight drew to a close I realised with surprise that we have only three weeks of Term 3 left. It’s been a solid term of learning and we’re rather proud of how hard all the children have worked. Speech Therapy Yippee, we’ve graduated weekly lessons. Well we have a huge pile of homework but no regular lessons until next year. Plan is: we were given three weeks of homework, we do it and return to show progress. Mmm already missed first week of homework, time to ‘crack the books.’ Faith Jem made his First Confession!!! He did it, declaring it not as hard as he thought, in…
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Experimenting in the Kitchen
I’ve been trying a few recipes in the kitchen adding a new favourite and discovering a few ‘don’t repeats.’ Seed & Nut Balls – A huge favourite that we are making just about daily are these Jewel Bliss Balls, full of goodness with almonds, chia seeds, pepitas and sunflower seeds as well as yummies of dates and dried apricots. I suspect the ultimate yummy is the choc chips we have substituted for cocoa nibs, perhaps not so healthy. Totally happy to know we are eating all the goodness of seeds and nuts. Thanks to Marijke for the pin. Seed & Nut Bars – Thinking more seeds I trialed a different…
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Designing My Kitchen – Wanna Help?
The pace is picking up once again on our building work, with the laundry now demolished and the last of the verandah work commencing in preparation for re-roofing the ‘old house,’ it’s time to make several major decisions. Such as Designing our Kitchen. Building is like that, there is always a flow on effect, one job leads to another, one decision means several others now have to be made. Once the verandah is completed, load bearing posts will be erected in preparation for the roof trusses. As the ‘old house’ walls are lower than the ‘new house’ we need to ‘build up’ the walls, while doing that we will replace…
