Monday 28 May 2007 Update

Well things have been good here on the farm. We have had a few inches of rain and the water tanks have filled up. There still needs to be a fair bit more to fill the dams and keep the grass growing. Unfortunately we may not get enough warm weather now until spring to make the grass grow too much but we will still take any rain we can get. The lambs will be arriving soon so I will take some photo's when they do.

For now, here are some photo's of our little boy Sam. He is 7 1/2 weeks old now and is smiling at everyone and gurgling away in conversation. It is really amazing how each day brings new changes. We are having so much fun watching him grow before our eyes.

The first photo is of one of Sam's smiles, it's not a full one but it gives you a taste. The second photo is of Sam and Dad in the bath I know what you are thinking and yes I do feed my husband, he is just one of those people who never put on weight, they are so cute together. Sam has kept his modesty with the little bath thermometer that my cousin gave us . The other photo is Sam wearing his Bum Jumper that I made for him out of an old woolen jumper. It keeps him warm and dry without having to wear those horrid plastic nappy covers and at night he doesn't get as smelly when he does lots of Wees.

P.S Last night we had our first sleep through. He went to bed at 11pm and didn't wake up until 6am. Oh the bliss of 7 hours uninterrupted sleep.

Baby Samuel Update Wed 2 May 2007

Well so far everything has been going o.k. I ended up with a bit of Mastitis (luckily mum was here that week and helped out soooo much). Now I have a cold and feel awful when I get up at night to feed the little one.

However, he is such a good little boy that I cannot complain. He only cries when he wants a feed or is uncomfortable and He is happy to lie in his bassinette when I need to do some washing or a bit of housework. I have discovered "Pocket Nappies" which are just the best thing ever invented, so easy to use and so easy to care for. Here are a few more photo's of little Sam. One with Marcus after a feed and the other in bed with my mum.

Baby Samuel

Introducing baby Samuel Jacob Clarke. Born on 6 April 2007 (Good Friday), weighing in at 8lb 14 and 51cm long. He did not want to come out of his home but we got there eventually. He is absolutely beautiful (I know I am biased), he didn't have any wrinkles or blotches but had beautiful skin and a little bit of dark hair on top.

So far he is being very good. He eats well and then goes down for a sleep for a while. He does cry and fuss a little especially when it is nappy change time but then he settles straight away when cuddled. We are (of course) using cloth nappies even though we are on tank water supplies. I am a greenie at heart and the chemicals and process involved in making disposables are just awful for both the environment and the baby. I have some really great modern cloth nappies that are very easy to use so there is really not too much hardship except an extra load of washing every few days.

Overall it was a pretty harrowing birth but Marcus was just wonderful and was there beside me encouraging me the whole way. I cannot say it was a beautiful experience but the end result is just perfect.

New Calf Friday 16 March 2007

This one is for Mary (and Jimmy) in America, thought you might like to see one of our calves. His mother is not well enough to make milk so we are looking after him, he is a little Short-Horn calf, they are the cutest cause you never know what colour combination of white and red they will come out . I am looking at my worst but who cares - the cows certainly don't.

Kitchen Swap Wednesday 14 March 2007

Here are the answers to the Kitchen Swap questions.

1. What colours are you kitchen.
We will be getting a new house plopped down on our land sometime this year and I will be having a lovely neutral kitchen so I don't care what colours things are.

2. What is your favourite appliance
My Easy cook oven. We only have a wood fired stove at the moment and I refuse to light it in the summer so easycook saved my life. It also makes everything so healthy cause it's fan forced and everything is cooked on racks and you can make great chips and schnitzel with no fat.

3. What do you love cooking most
I love cooking Lasagne. I have a really huge dish that we got for an engagement pressie but have only used it one cause it doesn't fit in the easycook, so I am looking forward to my new kitchen with a nice big oven. I also like cooking cakes and biscuits for my husband cause he has such a sweet tooth but never puts on a single gram.

4. What item would you love the most from your swap partner
I would love some oven mitts, I have been meaning to make some but haven't gotten around to it. I really don't mind what I get cause I just love being a part of this thing.

I will be really good and post sewing photo's tonight of all the things I have made the last few months.
I will also be putting a photo up for Mary (brothers girlfriend). We have some gorgeous calves at the moment and a couple a on the bottle so I thought she would like to see them.
Bec

Wednesday 14 Feb 2007

Well I am just a very lucky girl. I got my sewing group valentines swap and it has soooo many goodies in it. It is from the lovely Joanne and I am so greatful. It has 3 different fabrics in it, including 2 lovely baby prints. A stitches magazine, and a little bag full of goodies like rik rak and sewing supplies.

Thank you Joanne.

Saturday 10 Feb 2007

This is a photo especially for my little brother to see. He is so far away at the moment and I am sure he possibly never expected to see this at all.

I got DH to take this photo this morning so excuse the bed hair. I am only wearing a sports bra and the daggy drawstring shorts that I made to run around the farm in. I have pulled the shorts down so you get the full picture.

I only have 7 weeks to go now and I don't think I am too huge. Toby the wonder dog decided to join me in the photo, he loves to show off and he really is the smartest, best working kelpie I have ever met.

Hope this doesn't put you off your food.

Bec

Sunday 14 January 2007 Baby Bag

MY BABY BAG!!!
This is great, I am so proud of it. I was a fishing widow yesterday afternoon, so I said stuff the housework and got stuck into my new project. I bought a simplicity Nappy Bag pattern last week and some red denim. I had a bit of trouble understanding the instructions at first as it is a complicated bag to put together. After reading through it a few times I got the gist. I think I will go with what I have learned from making other bags next time, I know a much simpler way to get almost the exact same result. Still it was a learning experience.

I have to say, however, I have also lined it with the denim and boy it makes for thick sewing. I blunted 2 needles and I think I'd better get my machine serviced soon, but I am really glad as it will be very hard wearing and long lasting. There are also 2 small pouches to go inside it in the same fabric but I was smart enough to line them in a nice light cotton. They will fit some tissues, wipes and little stuff in them. On the bag I have used a nice green piece of the denim (that I found in the remnant bin) for the pockets and the lining which I have made peek over the top to snazz it up a bit. I also double stitched all the important seams.

So here it is.

New things

Saturday 13 January 2007,
I thought that I would show off a few things that I found in Wagga this week. I had a OB appointment and went thrifting and spotlighting.

The first photo is 2 patterns that I am hoping to be clever enough to make and some fabric. There is 1 mtr each of this flannel fabric with little rockets all over it in 2 different colours, also a doona cover with one side stripes and one side circles that I thought would make a great set of PJ's for hospital. There is also a bag pattern that I got from spotlight that has a change pad and 2 smaller purses with 5 different bags that I will have to now choose which one to make as my nappy bag. I also got some great red denim for making the bag (forgot to put it in the photo).

The second photo is just a small taste of all this baby stuff that a lady I know has given me. She had her 2nd baby about 15 months ago and said I could have her nappies but then she sends me 13 flat nappies, pilchers galore and this huge brown bag that is full of clothes. I could only fit a small amount into the picture. I am so lucky that I live in a community where people do things like that. Living in the country is just wonderful. I have made a committment to only use cloth nappies. I have a few fitted ones and some flannel and terry flats that I thought I may try making some fitteds out of some.
Even though we are on tank water I cannot bring myself to use disposables. Hopefully I can stick to that resolution when bub comes along. People keep telling me to use disposables when I go out but honestly what is the difference, you still have to change the baby and I can take a nappy home and wash it just as easily. I have a front loader and instructions on dry pailing so here's hoping.
*****HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIMMY******
My little brother turned 29 on 12 January and has gone up to Baltimore to spend the weekend with Mary. Hope he has a wonderful birthday. We are thinking of him.

Bec

Sunday 7 January 2007.
Welcome to the New Year Everyone. I had my last baby free new year and Hubby and I enjoyed a nice night out at the Golf Club where they had a great DJ who had the whole place rocking young and old. We grooved until about 12.30 then went home like an old married couple. I felt tired by then anyway because I only have 12 weeks to go now.

I have some answers to a Valentines Day Swap that I am participating in with an online sewing group that I am lucky enough to be a part of.

Kids:None Yet. 1st one due on April 1 this year.
Favourite Colours: I love green but am trying to get into some brighter colours like pinks & yellows etc, because people keep telling me I look good in brights.
What do I find Garish about Valentines Day: It has become very commercialised and people feel the need to spend too much money on each other.
What Do I love about Valentines Day: It can bring out the romantic in anyone. People who would usually take their partner for granted show their appreciation on this day (hopefully).
My Favourite Fabric/Habby/Sewing Item: Not sure if I have one. I love to add simple embellishments to simple things, like ribbon to a plain dress or buttons to a plain dress or top or even quilt.
Hopefully this helps whoever gets me in the swap.

Bec
.
p.s. My brother who has lived in America since April, spent New Years in Washington DC. I feel kind of sorry for him, even though he is having the most amazing experience overseas and has met a lovely girlfriend, he hasn't seen/been in a proper winter for well over 10 years. Hope you are not feeling too cold Jimmy, hopefully Mary keeps you warm with lots of nice hugs

Wednesday 20 December 2006
I have finally done it. I only had about 3 things that would still fit around my pregnant belly so I sat down on the weekend and made a skirt and a dress, and they are fit to show the world. The skirt is just a metre of a paisley fabric that I cut in half from the selvedge and sewed as one long piece then gathered a bit until it fit as a wrap around so that it can expand with me. I used a piece of red ribbon around the top.
The dress was another metre of fabric that I cut a single panel for the bust and then fitted it to my chest. The skirt was just the entire width of the fabric, flush around the back then with eight small tucks in the front to accommodate me & bub but not large tucks that would look ugly. I did a rolled hem on the bottom and it kind of lettuce'd it cause the material is cotton/elastine but it still looks o.k. Hopefully they both last until the end and I will get a few more things on the go this weekend. I didn't include my head in the photo cause I am really tired at the moment and it's not a good look for the www.
Bec

Monday 11 December 2006,

I have been tagged!!!

Five things you didn't know about me
1. My brother lives in Palm Beach USA and is a green keeper at a very posh Golf Club/Holiday Resort called "The Breakers" (look up the website to be blown away at the money some people must have to spend.
2. I have a fear of water and what I can't see underneath me. I love the water and was a real water baby/kid but in the last 10 years have developed an unreasonable fear of deep water and the "things" that I can't see. Maybe too many jaws movies.
3. My Husband only has 1 eye. In Feb 2005 he was helping his brother in the workshop and a tiny piece of steel flew up into his eye. DH is usually so safety conscious but was 5 feet away from his brother. We spent 2 terrible weeks up in Sydney with the most wonderful doctors and nurses who did everything they could but he ended up getting a prosthetic. It is amazing how some people don't even skip a beat, he shed a few tears but got straight back into the farm work and even played with his AFL team towards the end of the season. Funnily enough it brought us closer also. We had only been seeing each other since Sept 04 but we became so much closer and got engaged in April 05 and married in November 05. Strange how some things work out.
4. I was supposed to be called Sarah but my father is Jewish (not orthodox and I am catholic like mum) and in the Jewish community you cannot name a child after a relative who is still alive and at that time my great grandmother was stil with us.
5. Other than my Husband my mum and my brother are my best friends.

Monday 4 December 2006,
Farm life is continuing as usual. We have started feeding all the stock now which will empty the haysheds out pretty quickly. We also had the joy of a lightening strike on our back hill on Friday afternoon which started a grass fire. So the local boys all got suited up and came to our resuce, (well everyone in the district is a member of the fire brigade so it was just all the neighbours). It wasn't a huge fire and didn't even burn out a whole paddock but its the constant checking on it for the next 3 days that has been a pest. Because it is so hot and windy little parts kepts smouldering and smoking so poor Hubby spent most of his weekend up and down the hill checking for flare ups.

We got a new car on Friday which was pretty exciting. It is Hubby's first brand new car so you can imagine the excitment. We also found some excellent bargain baby stuff. We haven't really bought anything before now, I guess I didn't want to get too excited in case something went wrong but hopefully now that we are at 23 weeks it will keep going well. The only thing now is because we only go to town once every 2 or 3 months we have to get really organised in the next few visits.

I have been trying to sew myself some maternity clothes but inbetween work, housework and helping DH on the farm I don't seem to have any more time. I really have this need to sew because I have bought the most lovely cotton fabrics to make some nice summer clothes and I can't fit into anything that I have anymore because my belly is really starting to pop out now.

I will be sorting out the photo issue soon so everyone can see a little more about my life. I have been getting more excited about the baby lately. I was kind of in shock for so long even though we planned to start trying while we were on our honeymoon in June/July I never expected it to happen on the first try but oh well, I am used to the idea now and have been very lucky with not being sick much, I think the heat this summer may test me but overall I am looking forward to it. Hopefully I will get to America Mid 2007 to see my little brother so he can meet his 1st nephew and that will be just great, baby might even have a new auntie by then too so that will be even better.
Bec

Monday 30 October 2006,
This is my darling husband Marcus and I on our wedding day. This Sunday 5 November will be our 1st wedding anniversary and I have had the most amazing year. I know that times get hard and we won't always agree but so far it has been fun and wonderful. Now that we are expecting our 1st baby things are going to be a little different but still it is a very exciting time ahead and I cannot imagine my life being any different.

Wednesday 25 October 2006

Things are very busy at home at the moment. Hubby(Marcus) and his dad have been busy sorting up cattle so that we can get rid of some before the prices at the market fall even further. Luckily we have alot of lovely breeding cows that we can keep and look after for when it finally rains and the prices go up again. We have lots of sheep and cattle heading off to market like every other farming family. No-one can afford to feed them all at the moment. We have 2 types of cattle. Black Angus and Short Horns. Marcus loves the Short Horns the best and I have to agree with him. They have so much character in their red an white markings and the calves are just the cutest things ever. I will have some photo's to post real soon. It's always a pity that they have to grow up but even the older Short Horns are quite nice looking.

I started sewing a skirt on Friday and should finish it off tomorrow. It's the first time I have used my overlocker in about 2 years and I was worried that I might stuff it up but it worked out pretty good. It is a really simple A-line draw string skirt to help accommodate my growing stomach but the fabric is really summery and colourful so it will be great.

It has just rained for about 5 mins, not really very substantial but it may settle the dust for a while.
Over and out.
Bec

Thursday 19 October 2006
Here goes, my first ever blog.

Thank you to tigerfilly for helping me get started.

A bit about me to start with. 32 years old living on a farm that my husband runs with his father, it is in the Ournie valley which is right near the Murray river and about 1 1/2 hours from Thredbo. It really is a little slice of heaven down here to be able to wake up the the birds in the trees and the cows mooing (except when it's calf weaning time it's a bit noisy). I will post some photo's when I figure out how to.

My hubby Marcus and I were married on 5 November 2005 and went on our honeymoon on 10 June 2006 for 5 1/2 weeks to Canada where we had an absolute ball. We had planned on starting to try having babies while we were away and came home to find out that we were successful on the 1st go. I know that we are very blessed to be this lucky but I still felt very shocked for about the 1st 3 months.

So now I am 16 1/2 weeks and feeling really good. I guess I have been lucky. I only had 2 bad days in the whole time. I felt kind of blah for 14 weeks but really pretty lucky. I have been trying to get down to some serious sewing so that I have some maternity wear for the months to come and also eventually I want to make some baby clothes but so far I have trouble just getting my housework done cause the weather is too nice and I don't want to be inside but I guess I will have to get "nesting" before too long or I will be too fat to do anything. I will have to set aside all my stitching and patchwork projects for the moment too.

Enough for the 1st time. Hope this works o.k.