It’s great having power at the house now. We can listen to music and plug in lights, not to mention all the power tools that can be powered up without the noisy generator hogging the airspace!

We are delighted with the return of our goats, Anna and Giddy, who have been holidaying at Craige and Kristina’s property across the hill for the past year. Georgia and Matthew were particularly excited when the girls came home last Thursday. The girls’ first jobs are to eat up the weeds behind the cabin and then eat the weeds/grass in the ‘vege garden’ and surrounding paddock. We are thinking about where and how to build the fences for this purpose. We have a solar-powered electric fence kit that will suit the goats just fine. It’s just a matter of working out where the fences will go, and which fences will be taken down as well.

Georgia and Matty excited to have the goats back home!

Anna and Giddy eating Willow back at home

In addition to our additions, we have two new rabbits: Fluffy and SuperBunny. We bought the children some bunnies in an effort to blur the grieving process since Lucy died. Georgia is much happier now, with Fluffy to look after. Fluffy is very white and very tame. SuperBunny, named by and belonging to Matthew, is grey and gorgeous. Two girls, they should live happily together without breeding (I have heard that some girl bunnies end up being boys – we’ll see!).

Fluffy and SuperBunny in their new home

Georgia and Fluffy

The house is progressing rapidly and we are feeling very excited – we’re aching to move in! It’s so close now – the hard part is waiting until everything is ready for this family to live happily in the house.

Tiling is almost completed now, which makes the house feel very complete. Architraves and skirtings are going to be done soon. The spa bath is being plumbed in today, and tomorrow the wood stove will be fitted in, ie it will be plumbed in and the flue will be fitted. Exciting! We need to organise our hot water system. We also need to (smartly) organise our wardrobe fit-outs. We think we will go with Rubbermaid or Hills systems rather than build our own made of melamine. We are still waiting on the kitchen and we are also discussing our appliances requirements – this time we’re discussing not having an electric oven, cooktop and range. We are debating whether we can get by with just using the wood stove 75% of the time, and then using a microwave, portable induction cooktop, slow cooker and toaster oven instead. We need to make the decision, as it will have an impact on the cupboards we need in the kitchen.

My mother came to stay last week and we had a lovely time. We went to the Moscow Circus and it was marvellous. Most of the acts were either hilarious or scarily thrilling – or both. I am really glad we took the children. They were in awe; watching each performer attentively. The lights, music, colour, costumes and choreography were excellent. My favourite act was the trapeze because the performer was obviously having so much fun! I think the ponies were Georgia’s favourite and the 4 motorbikes riding in the dome was Matthew’s favourite. Monte’s favourite was the contortionist because she was so strong and flexible, climbing up the silk curtains.

outside the circus!

Georgia with the ringmaster at the Circus

Matthew has returned to childcare for the year and he is very excited about it. He has been asking to go to childcare for weeks, so he can play with his friends! Things are happy in this household. The fact that there are still 2 weeks of summer holidays is especially good!

Matty's return to childcare. Exciting!