Last days of school holidays...

Are you impulsive? Would you hop in the car with four kids, two dogs, a box of matches and a couple of packets of chips & set off for a long drive in the pouring rain? I know someone who would...

Anyway, it was a fun , crazy & damp way to finish up the school holidays. Being outside in the elements with out much planning seemed a whole lot better than staying at home with the tv on.

As for my other baby, we spent a lovely 24 hours together on Friday in the city. We went shopping - I bought this cute set of magnets for my friend Hannah...I just love them!

We also ate yummy food & chatted & laughed lots. As always I am going to miss her so much now she is back at school.

How were your holidays? Hope you had lots of adventures too xox

After the fires...

...there has been rain, rain, & more rain. After a crazy week of fire and wind, smoke and stress we have been blessed with rain. Wow! Hopefully it will put out some of the still smouldering fires in the area. I was talking to some parents at school today who are still unable to go home because of dangerous trees on their property. They have been living in a B & B, eating takeaway food and waiting for the 'all clear'. Very unsettling.

Today at school assembly we were asked to write down a prayer that related to the fires & the first thing I thought was of the courage of the firefighters. They did an amazing job saving people and property. Other people in the community also spent many hours helping - organising somewhere for people to sleep, looking after injured animals, making countless cups of tea, comforting children. Many people have shared their homes, been a shoulder to cry on - to people who they may not even know. Hard times can bring out the best in people and for this I am thankful.

The wild winds that were predicted weren't as bad as forecast but they were still strong and managed to rip the top off one of our trees.

It's been interesting hearing people debrief about the fires..this is a good thing as it's been hard on everyone. There are alot of tired looking people around town and I'm finding it harder to think clearly. It's been a crappy week - and I also have a lingering cold that keeps me awake at night...no fun. So this is a short post in anticipation of a more interesting and hopefully upbeat one next time!

Before I go please meet the newest addition to our family...the adorable Patch! She was given to us by friends from school..isn't she cute?

Hope you are all happy & well, wherever you are. See you soon, x

This is a photo taken at the end of our street of the fire that started in Sailors Falls and threatened Daylesford and other towns nearby.

As I left to pick up the kids from school yesterday afternoon I noticed a small spiral of smoke over near my friend, Michelle's house, to the right of the photo. By the time we got home the smoke was bigger and spreading. The next few hours and into the night the whole town of Daylesford and surrounding towns monitored it's progress. It was very stressful as we worried about friends nearer the fire and took care of some young teenagers who were stranded. We watched from Wombat Hill as the fires burned close by. We also watched as some of our neighbours packed and left.

Around midnight I went to the townhall to take bedding and to find out if there was any more information. It was a very draining night and Mark & I didn't get much sleep. For the kids it must have been hard too. After seeing footage of the recent fires on Black Saturday and hearing stories of loss it was hard for everyone yesterday. Thank god everyone was safe.

Out the front of our house.

This is the reality of living in the country I guess...it's something I haven't ever experienced and it was pretty overwhelming. Thank you to everyone who has been in touch, thankyou for caring.

We are lucky that it wasn't worse and if anything I feel even more for the people who suffered in Black Saturday.

Today we are tired and I'm not really thinking too clearly. We are worried about Friday when it will be hot and windy. Lets hope the fires will be out by then. Better go now, need sleep! x