What's up for Discussion?

I was raised in a household where you pretty much did not discuss religion or politics. You could talk in general terms but you don't come out and say 'I'm an Anglican' or 'I support the Greens' or whatever the case may be. It was almost like an unspoken rule, you may know what religion people are or aren't or where their political preferences lay but it's not discussed openly, it's just not polite.

So I was a little taken aback on the weekend, when at a party, a fellow Mum proceeded to tell me about the choice of school she'd made for her firstborn son. Now bearing in mind in town there is only a choice of two schools, the Public School or the Catholic School, this Mum proceeded to tell me that she had chosen the Catholic School for her son because 1 - she is Catholic and was raised a Catholic and 2 -  'Really where else would you send them' and then proceeded to tell me it was because she felt it was important to instill 'Good Values' into the children the way that she was raised.

Now really I think it's great that she has strong feelings on her child's education, and that she is so definite in her choices and what she wants for her children, as I have met many a parent who is apathetic about their child's education. What was hard to take (for me anyway) was this open discussion of her religion and her reasons relating to religion for her child's education. When I was growing up, this wouldn't have been up for discussion it would be 'oh great you're sending them there' or 'shame we won't be going to the same school' the religion discussion would just not have happened, particularly not so publicly or with someone who is not family or a close family friend, it just was not done. I'm more than happy to have a chat about the different schools, teaching styles, the make up of kids in the school and have had many such a discussion without the religion factor, so I know it can be done.

A similar thing happens around here at election time, people feel that it's OK to talk about who you voted for and share that information with you. This is information I don't feel comfortable hearing and then they get a little affronted when I won't return the information exchange and tell them who I voted for out of the slim pickings on the ballot paper.

Have I missed something, a shift in culture or conversation? Am I behind the times, is it now polite to discuss openly your religion or political choices? Were my family and friends always behind the times, was it always OK to discuss this, or am I experiencing a 'country thing' I wasn't aware of before? Am I the only one who feels this? Am I even allowed to discuss it here, or is that taboo too?

Maybe I need to review my conversation rules?

Wordless Wednesday - A Little Light Show

A couple of years ago my Muddy Sister-in-law gave these delightful cupcake lights to my Muddy Girls to decorate their room. Initially they were great, then we moved rooms, didn't set them up, then there was a loose globe. Now finally Muddy Hubby has them going again and each night is like our own personal light show (we take what we can get out here!). Then for his Baptism Muddy Bubby was gifted with some lovely star lights, so we now have a light show going in 2 bedrooms each night! It puts a smile on everyone's face each time they get switched on.

Linking up with Trish at My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday and showing a bit of pink in support of her breast cancer fight, sending love and hugs to Trish and her family.

A Planting We Will Go....

Our local Landcare Group were successful in gaining a tree planting grant, this included trees for members and some tree planting equipment. For us we have picked a few spots to plant the trees in big fenced off areas and then along roads through some of our blocks. This weekend we started on our big planting. Everyone had a job (except Muddy Bubby who crawled around the ute or slept), I dug the holes and planted the trees, Muddy Hubby banged in the posts and put the tree guards together, the Muddy Girls were in charge of pulling the trees out of the seedling tray, giving us the milk carton and the bamboo stakes. We had to rotate jobs between the Muddy Girls as there was a little bit of fighting over who got to hand out the trees and who got to make up the milk cartons.

We still have a lot to go, but we've made a start and it feels good, we now have to cross our fingers for a shower of rain to keep them growing, otherwise I think I'll be carting buckets of water to them up the paddock!

It's been fantastic to get out and about the farm as a family and get the girls involved in planting the trees. They can now check on them and watch them grow and probably in about 20-30 years the Muddy Kids will be cursing us for taking up their precious farming country with trees, but for now we're making a mark on our blocks, planting together and loving it.

 

A Bathroom a Clean Up and Some Dressing Gowns

For the last few months I've had my rental house consuming each spare moment of my thoughts, firstly with the Insurance Company Battle then with trying to make a decision about a repair or a major renovation and then trying to find 'the perfect builder' and watching the whole process of bathroom being demolished and rebuilt. Then finally at the end of last week came the BIG Clean Up! When I say big, I mean big, the dust from the building work had permeated every inch of the house. There was some painting to be done and some gardening touch up work, all before the first open house on Saturday. For Thursday and Friday last week I was missing in action for my family, trying to make the house clean and enticing for potential tenants. Finally it is all done, bathroom finished, house sparkly and clean and open house over. Now the wait for potential tenants and fingers crossed it happens soon as my bank account is looking very sad.

I finally fell into bed exhausted on Friday night, again missing bedtime and that special time each afternoon where the Muddy Kids each tell me about their day (even if they spent the day with me it gets recounted). So I was excited to rug my Muddy Kids up on Saturday morning in their dressing gowns and have some catch up time.

I'm hoping things return to a normal level of busy soon!

Wordless Wednesday - We'll Keep An Eye on Things

Linking up with Trish at My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday. Sending Lots of Love and Wishes on this big day to Trish and for the fight ahead.

What a Difference the Right Weather Makes

This year I will have been living on the farm for 7 years, I've been visiting for longer, but actually living, breathing farm life for 7 years. 7 of the best years, with ups and downs and big events, four babies, lots of love and laughter. The thing that still amazes me and makes my heart sing is the first flush of green across the paddocks, those first few weeks when the seed shoots and the crops start to grow.

With just the right weather (not too much rain, but not too little, warm days but not too hot and not too cold) those seeds push their way up and out into the sunshine to test their fate with what the weather has to offer. I never thought when I was growing up that my life would revolve so much around the weather, it can mean the difference between a happy Muddy Hubby or a sad Muddy Family, money in the bank or a tight, tight budget. On days that it rains the businesses in town are busy, busy as farmers can't do much around the farm and head into town for 'town jobs'. It's often these days that throw the week into disarray as Muddy Hubby says 'let's go and get this job done' as opposed to the long to do list I had planned for the day.

Just before the weekend's rain, Muddy Bubby and I did a little crop tour while delivering chemical down to one of the blocks for Muddy Hubby. We checked on the Canola and the Lupins and it had been a few weeks since we'd checked them and my how they'd grown! They were starting to power ahead which was a lovely sight to see and cheered me up lots on a down day.

Does your life revolve around the weather like mine?

What's your favourite bit about where you live?

Canola, just shooting through

Canola starting to 'cabbage' out

Lupins just out of the ground

Lupins looking good

A Muddy Weekend in Instagram

Do you ever feel like you're just treading water, like you are busy, busy, but when someone asks you, you have trouble remembering what's been keeping you so busy. I get very forgetful when I'm in this state, forgetting appointments, jobs to do and worst of all groceries when I'm shopping and left the list at home. I hate this state, it makes me feel like I'm not accomplishing much and worse still my house is in a total state of disarray.

This weekend was one of those weekend, a not much, but lots happening kind of weekend. We did lots of baking, for gifts and to take to a party. We made a cool cubby house using the sheets and chairs, which was fun til Muddy Bubby came and pulled it all down. We did have fun rebuilding it though!

We checked on the bathroom renovations at 'Mummy's old house' as the Muddy Girls call it, and I'm feeling a little better as it's almost done (thank goodness). While Muddy Hubby painted I started the big clean up and some of the 'to do's' to be done before new tenants can move in.

Then we finished up with a big birthday party for a very cute 2 year old. My Muddy Tribe had a ball, playing in the big shed and getting dirty, making new friends and reacquainting themselves with cousins. It was so nice though to drive home watching a beautiful sunset, snuggle up on the couch to watch 'The Block' and then have an early night. It's the simple things I love the most.

Having newly discovered Instagram and LOVING IT, I'm keeping track of what we've been doing and reminding myself of why I feel so tired and want to be in bed early!

How was your weekend? Do you tread water like me, feeling like you're going nowhere?