Highs and Lows

This week has seen some awesome ‘firsts’, along with a huge amount of water dropping from the sky from ex cyclone Penny.  The children are still on holidays, and Azariah has begun to build his own cubby on the rocks near the driveway. 

Last week, on Sunday, we went to the women’s big bash game in Mackay. The Heat played the Renegades. Fortunately, we found a nice spot in the grandstand that was shaded for our friends to join us. It was Sharlene’s first time at a live game - and she enjoyed it. 

The kids went down to the boundary fence after the game to have their pictures of the team autographed. 

Yesterday, Sharlene spotted a bee swarm on our fence. After donning the suit, she successfully swept the swarm into a box and captured it. Another first! So exciting to get another hive. 

On a sad note, we’ve also had many losses this week. Today, our newest young ewe passed away from unknown causes. This understandably affected the children quite badly. We also lost our pet ‘Mouse’ this week, we suspect from old age. Finally, we have hatched out two baby guinea fowl, but in the process have lost our beautiful spotted python, who managed to escape his enclosure and has disappeared.

So it has been a week of mixed emotions. Hopefully, only good times ahead. 

New sheep shelter completed

Over this Christmas break, we were offered two additional dorper sheep - a ram and a ewe. Work had begun on the construction of a new, improved sheep shelter some months ago, but nothing more had been done except for the post holes. With the imminent arrival of our new sheep, it was time to complete the shelter. I also finally incorporated the wire mesh door that we had scrounged from the tip shop in 2017. 

Behold: the sheep shelter!

...and our new sheep.

The sheep will be kept near our house until they are quiet and then introduced to ‘Rocket Pocket’ our existing one-eared sheep.

Cole Christmas 2018

This year the next generation of Coles converged for Christmas at our house in the country. We enjoyed four fun days with family as we filled our time mowing, building a new sheep shelter, giving and receiving gifts, playing with baby Lexi, swimming in our new wading pool, swatting march flies, staking and marking the location of new eucalyptus trees, painting and hitting golf balls (I received 400 from Trev), eating pies at the Pinnacle Pub, making lassis, eating cold pizza, eating quadruple-choc brownies, eating mango salad (and watermelon salad), playing games (bohnanza, spot it, Drawful 2), cleaning rooms and relocating beds for the boys to accomodate their new hot wheels toy collection, and playing French cricket. 

Opening prezzies photos:

Liana’s Desert Rose

Liana was given a desert rose by her Great-Aunt Monica as a gift when she was born. Recently, it flowered for the first time.

Kindy Graduation for Liana

The 5th of December marked the final kindergarten graduation ceremony for the Cole children. Liana got dressed up in mini regalia and received her certificate. The group also performed several songs for the adoring parents. 

16th year anniversary

This year we decided to return to Conway Beach. We were there 4 years ago at this time. However, this year, the dynamics have changed a little. A few friends decided to accompany us. In the process of time, friends and family of those friends also joined  the group. In total a sizeable group. Unfortunately, a heatwave struck that weekend, so the best we could do was sit in the shade and sweat or swim in the pool with every other camper.  

On Sabbath, we took the children for an early beach walk and found many object lessons about the world and God.

Finding hermit crabs.

We pretended that these were little hills with trees.

New Rock Garden

Last week we completed a small project to clean up the side of our house. The idea was to build a small rock garden. All the children chipped in and the garden came together quite quickly. 

Pathfinder and Adventurer investiture

Yesterday was a high day for our family as our children were invested for their year’s club work.

Grandma Mac’s 60th Birthday

Our family recently drove down to Gympie to celebrate Grandma Mac’s birthday. We camped at the Borumba Deer Park with a good portion of aunts, uncles and friends. 

Sabbath was spent searching for yabbies and playing in the creek. Saturday night was a 50’s style party. Although we had to head home again early Sunday.

Liana also enjoyed dancing, but I shall post that later as the video is currently too dark.

Bee hives are in

The cement slab beside the shed is finally completed. Pop Cole and I spent the best part of 6 hours mixing and laying cement. But the end product is worth it.